Self Care isn't always face masks and a glass of wine - although sometimes that is nice. Self Care is so much more. It is treating yourself like you would want your partner to treat you. Think of it this way, what can you do for yourself today to make your life easier tomorrow?
Now we all know, that is a loaded question. In today's fast paced world, it is easy to fill our plates fuller than the dinner table on Thanksgiving Day. How can I have time for self care if I don't even have time to do the laundry? Well you guessed it... doing laundry is a form of Self Care - so there you go.
Redefining our own definitions of Self Care is where the journey truly begins. Self Care goes beyond the physical self. Afterall, we have a mind and soul too, not just a body. Due to this, we need to think of Self Care less as caring of the self and mor as Caretaking for the Self.
In easier terms, if you hired a caretaker or assistant for an elderly family member or your child, what tasks would you expect them to do to help out your loved one? How would you expect them to help out around the house? How would they aid in your scheduling to ensure you have the time with friends and family you desire?
Now, it's understandable that you feel overwhelmed right now. However, this is just the beginning of your new life. Start by making a To-Do list split into 3 sections - Body, Mind and Soul. In this To-Do list, write down what you have to do first, then what you have to do within the next week, and so on and so forth.
After this, write down what you would like to do if you have all the time in the world. From there, move through the list and number each section of the list (Mind/Body/Soul) by priority on the left side of the writing, and by the amount of time it would take on the right.
By categorizing your tasks of Self Care by time and priority, it can become easier to implement Self Care actively into our daily lives. Have an extra 5 minutes, do one of the 5 minute tasks on your To-Do list. After some time, it will be easy to not use that 5-10 minutes of boredom to scroll on Instagram or Tik Tok and instead use it for a few moments of sweet self care.
Above all else, Self Care is being your own best friend, your own partner. Help yourself out tomorrow through your actions today. Give yourself a moment of breath. Allow yourself to go on a quick walk around the block. Organize that shelf that has been stressing you out for the past 2 months. Self Care doesn't have to be an all out ordeal, after all the small things add up.
What is your definition of self care?