For the better part of the 20th century, it wasn’t common knowledge to take care of oneself. It was only recently that we start hearing about self-care on TV and in magazines as a way to stay healthy and strong in challenging times. Nowadays, self-care has transformed into something with many meanings which can vary person by person.
While this is true in many cases, it’s a very narrow understanding of the concept when it comes to our mental health. Self-care may very well mean a massage or a day of golf. It might mean going out with friends or taking a day to enjoy some extra rest. Who doesn’t love taking time away from the stress of daily life to do something with the sole purpose of giving yourself an emotional boost?
In actuality, self-care goes much deeper than a day at the spa, and the sooner you can embrace it in its full meaning, the healthier you will become. Good self-care doesn’t always mean doing something enjoyable. Honestly, it might mean doing things you actively dislike.
When it comes to taking care of ourselves, we’re quick to embrace the activities that feel nice. Those massages and manicured nails aren’t much of a struggle. We enjoy them, and yes, we should make time for those things. But, freshly painted nails aren’t life-changing, and sometimes we need the kind of care that cuts to our core. Sometimes, self-care looks more like self-parenting. Stop eating the cookies after one or two. Go to bed at a decent hour. No, you can’t go play with friends until the house is clean. Every now and then, what we really need isn’t relaxation. It’s discipline.
Here are some other examples of self care:
*Regular exercise.
*Good nutrition
*Setting healthy boundaries
*Meditation/Prayer
*Having vulnerable conversations
*Going to therapy
*Quitting smoking/drinking
*Journaling
*Goal setting
*Relinquishing control of others
*Embracing positivity
Self-care is vitally important to being our best selves. We need time to recharge, and engaging in relaxing and fun activities is part of living our best life. But true self-care also includes the hard things that don’t always seem easy at the moment, yet pack a big payoff. Challenge yourself to add some tough love into your self-care routine. Let me know if I can help!
