In a world that deems rest as a reward instead of a right, its not surprising that we believe self-care is a luxury. We come up with these ideas that self-care is only for certain people or that it needs to be fancy. We deem self-care as a luxury for special occasions. Sometimes we even become overwhelmed with the concept of self-care as we make it grand or majestic. When I mention self-care, people often say “I don’t have time to go to the spa” or “I can’t just take the next flight out”. But that’s not what I’m saying.
What I am trying to say is that self-care can be simple. You need to look after yourself. It is imperative that you make time for yourself and that you add yourself into the equation of life. In a world that values constant productivity at a consistent pace, we have been trained to keep moving, to keep going and to keep working. Self-care is not meant to be this monumental thing. It is meant to replenish your soul and refuel your energy. Self-care is a necessity in maintaining your physical, emotional and mental well-being.
We have also been trained to think that self-care and rest is not productive. We have been taught that self-care is counter productive. However, this is not true as you cannot pour from an empty cup. You cannot drive on an empty tank and you cannot bloom if you’re not rooted in good soil.
When we neglect caring for ourselves, this can lead to stress, illness and burnout. These aspects take over our ability to function at 100%. Instead of thinking of self-care as a luxury, consider it to be preservation or sustenance of one’s self. Your body requires more than just water, food and sleep. It also requires self-care, recognizing your worth and ensuring you have the energy and clarity to face life’s challenges.
Think about this: You wouldn’t let your phone battery die; you wouldn’t let your car gas tank run on empty; you wouldn’t ignore a smoke alarm; nor would you keep running on a sprained or injured ankle. So why is it that we let our self care take the back burner?
Self-care is not a complicated process, and it consists of small steps we can take to ensure we are properly taking care of our physical, mental and emotional health. Sometimes self-care can be going to the spa, but sometimes it can also mean having a bath at home with your favourite candle and essential oils. Maybe self-care is curling up on the couch with a good book and a cup of tea. Or even cancelling plans that you never really wanted to attend? (where are my introverts at?).
If you’re unsure of how to start on the self-care journey or what to try, here is a short list of self-care ideas:
- Going for walks
- Blasting your favourite song/playlist
- Taking a lunch break from work (like actually taking a lunch break)
- Practicing mindfulness
- Reading a book
- Going outdoors and getting some fresh air
- Planning a getaway (to a nearby city or somewhere further away)
- Organizing or cleaning up a space that you’ve been neglecting
- Listening to a podcast
- Learning something new
- Connecting with nature
- Meditating
- Taking a relaxing shower or bath (candles, scented oils, music, bubbles, etc)
- Taking some time to zone out
- Pamper yourself
- Practicing gratitude
- Put your phone away (I promise the messages will be there when you go back to it)
- Getting creative (arts, music, etc)
- Connecting with people you love
- Gaining more sleep or practicing good sleep hygiene
- Getting your hair or nails done
- Celebrating silence
- Cooking a favourite recipe or trying a new one (or the complete opposite – ordering in because you deserve a night off from cooking)
- Sitting in the sunshine and feeling the warmth on your skin (my favourite)
- Going for a massage (use those benefits if you have them!)
Self-care isn’t limited to what I mentioned above. Self-care is anything that brings you joy and feeds your soul. The purpose in self-care is to carve out time for you. So take some time after reading this to ask yourself “what brings me joy?” or “what do I miss doing that was just for me?” Write down some ideas, and then fit them into your schedule.
Stop feeling guilty for engaging in self-care or looking after yourself from a world that was never set up to look after you to begin with.
And remember, self-care isn’t a luxury – it’s a necessity. Rest is not a reward – it’s a right. You deserve it.
- Sarah