A lot of us spend countless hours of the day tending to others. Maybe it’s the kids or a spouse, or it could be your job or your friends…whatever it is, it rarely seems to be you.
Why are we afraid to put ourselves first? It feels like society has taught us that loving and tending to ourselves is a selfish act when it is the most selfless and necessary thing you can do! Self-care is not a luxury, it is a necessity and for that reason, it should also be a priority. Especially if you work in a profession that requires you to care for others. The last thing you need is to get “burnt out” doing something you love to do, so finding ways to decompress and refresh your mind (and spirit) is vital. And there isn’t a right or wrong way to self-care; there isn’t a “one size fits all” approach to take. So, let’s talk about it. Here are some of the most basic ways take care of yourself:
- Getting enough sleep
- Eating a balanced diet
- Saying “no” when you are at your limits
- Taking time throughout the day to decompress
- A few minutes of deep breathing
- Taking a quick walk
- Stretching
- Read ‘that’ book you’ve had on your list (or at least start it)
Some of us wait too long to pay attention to ourselves and get frustrated or confused at the outcome. But you have to treat you how you treat your car (or should treat your car- LOL). You shouldn’t drive it on E; put gas in it! You should be taking preventative measures like oil changes, rotating the tires, whatever it takes to keep the car running smoothly. What does it take to keep you running smoothly? If you’ve been neglecting yourself, you may need to take your self-care a step further.
- Write in a journal
- Take yourself on a date (yes, alone)
- Get a massage, facial or pedicure (yes, you guys too J)
- Meditate/Pray (get in tune with yourself)
- Make plans – give yourself something fun and spontaneous to look forward to
- Sit in silence (practice mindfulness)
- Find ways to fall in love with YOU
It doesn’t matter how many hours of the day you spend caring for people if you’re not taking the time to care for yourself. Like they say, you can’t pour from an empty glass. Self-care is the best care! Love you first and most…
-By Kaprice Gilbert, Referral Coordinator, Family Support Services
Comment on the different ways you care for yourself below 🙂
what a GREAT reminder of taking care of ourselves and all the numerous ways that we can do that! Excellent article Kaprice, I LOVE it!
thank you!
Awesome article. So often in our field self-care is an afterthought. I’ve found it’s helpful to look at self-care as a mindset that embraces honesty. When I’m honest with myself and my humanness, I become aware of my limitations, when it might be time to pull back on work, and what my body might be telling me it needs. When I’m honest with others, I become enabled to ask for help, set better boundaries, and/or assert myself when needed. When I’m honest about life, I am able to better prioritize love, spirituality, and connection to others. Namaste <3
Yes, thank you for the encouragement and thoughtfulness \.
Thanks for the reminder it’s okay to LOVE AND TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF!!! Expanding your thoughts about what self-care actually is will open a whole new level of one’s self. Keep your tanks full friends! xoxox