The meaning of self-care is straight forward, taking care of yourself. But before we dive into the many options to take care and practice self-compassion, it is helpful to consider if you are ready to give yourself permission and time for self-care.
Permission for Self-Care
#1) Make the Decision. Explore what self-care has or hasn't looked like in your own life. If you haven't made time for self-care, it could be beneficial to explore the reasons why. It is time? Do you need extra support in making it happen? Why is not important? Why is it important? How would self-care be helpful? Journaling about these questions can be beneficial in understanding your own thoughts and care.
You must decide if you are interested in making self-care a part of your life. There are many beneficial reasons to have self-care - supporting both your physical and mental health. When we take time to care for ourselves, we are fueling our minds and bodies and it helps us care for others.
If you've had self-care as a part of your life, consider deciding if you are interested and open to other ways to care for yourself.
#2) Set the Intention. Once you decide "yes", I need and want self-care - set the intention. Write down what your intention is around self-care. It could be "giving myself time to relax" or "making one appointment per week to take care of myself. When we write down our intentions, we are more likely to act on them. Take it a step further and make the writing down of the intention a fun art project.
#3) Choose the Self-Care You Need. Listen to your body and give time to reflect on what it is that will give you the care you need right now. Self-care means something different to each person. Going to see a film is relaxing for me but for another may prefer a warm bath at home.
Here are some ideas to reflect on in thinking about what self-care activity will serve you best right now.
#4) Make a Plan. Schedule it in your calendar. Book the appointment. Set an alarm. Tell a friend to help keep you accountable. If you really struggling to keep the appointment with yourself, then it is time to make an appointment with someone like a massage therapist or a friend to walk with in the park.
#5) Be Kind to Yourself. If your first try at giving yourself care doesn't happen for any reason (forgetting, not enough time or anything else), it's okay. Self-care is like creating a new practice or habit for ourselves. We are all human and changes, big or small, don't always happen right away.
Self-care is a great practice to have in place for when life does feel heavy, low or stressful. Perhaps you've had self-care things you have done in the past but now it is time to try something new. Life changes, we change and what we need changes over time. Explore and have fun! The person you pass on your next self-care walk could be the joyful smile you see each time you go to the park.
Photo Credit: Photo by Sydney Rae