Self Care is the Best Care
There are 2 reasons why taking care of myself is my #1 priority.
My current self deserves the time, space, and energy so that I can continue to show up as the best version of myself that I can in each moment - even if today’s version of myself involves lying on the couch binge-watching Game of Thrones.
I want to feel my best and be able to live my life to the fullest for a very, very long time. I want to be able to be the absolute best version of myself for my family. And to give me the best chance for this to actually happen is to take care of myself now.
I want to be the best version of myself now, and in the future. I deserve it. My family deserves it. So I make taking care of myself a priority.
But self-care is more than just bubble baths and spa days (though those are still very nice!). Self-care is anything that helps you recharge, anything that helps to give you energy. This makes self-care is an incredibly personal concept. What self-care means to you may be completely different from what it means to someone else.
Self-care could be a massage. It could be watching a movie. It could be working out, painting your nails, having dinner with friends, baking cookies, going shopping, snuggling with your dog (or cat or hamster or a stuffed animal). It could be taking a bath and lighting your favorite candles. It could be reading a book while enjoying your favorite glass of wine. It could be rocking out to your favorite band through your headphones, listening to a podcast, or meditating. Self-care can also be going to the grocery store to get food that you can eat if you have a flare this week, or getting your laundry folded so you’re not constantly feeling stressed every time you see the pile of clothes growing larger and larger. The list is literally endless because each of us is different and enjoy different activities.
Self Care doesn’t need to be pricey. Going for a walk outside totally counts as self care if that’s something that recharges and re-energizes you! Even better, it doesn’t cost a thing! I absolutely love to snuggle up under a blanket with a good book and because I can go through books pretty quickly, I use my library to get books for free. I love to paint my nails, and one bottle of nail polish lasts me so long that I don’t mind spending the $5-ish to get a color that makes me feel damn good about myself.
Self Care also doesn’t need to be time-consuming. As little as 5 minutes here and there can make a big difference. I love to listen to podcasts as I drive around during my day and as I clean my house on the weekends. By listening to something that I enjoy, it takes a pretty boring, mundane task and makes it feel more exciting and therefore gives me more energy to keep going.
Since self-care can be such a broad list of activities, I encourage you to make a list of activities that count as self-care for you. That way, when you’re having a rough day or just want to show yourself a little extra love and kindness, you have a list to go to full of ideas and don’t get trapped in the overwhelm of trying to figure out what to do.
Since self-care is anything that helps you recharge, anything that helps to give you energy. In order to figure out what self-care looks like for you, you need to know which activities in your life add to your energy, and which ones drain your precious energy away. Anything that adds energy to your life that you enjoy doing, goes on the list! (If something drains your energy away, you can start practicing self-care by taking steps to minimize it in your life!)
Keep this list someplace that you can see if easily, I have a list typed up in my phone and another one written on a piece of paper in my office. That way, I can always look at my list for self-care inspiration when I need it.
I’d love to hear what you come up with for your list! Please share in the comments!
-Chelsea