Introduction
We’re going to talk about self-care today. If you've never heard of the term before, here's a quick introduction: Self-care is all about looking after yourself. It's giving yourself permission to take time out, relax and do nice things for yourself.
We often hear about people who say they don't have time for self-care, but we don't think this is true! Everyone has 24 hours in every day, so how you choose to use them really comes down to what is important to you and what works best for your lifestyle right now.
You are the best judge of what works for you.
You know how you feel and what you need. You know what helps you feel better and relaxed, energised, or happy. Self-care is all about learning to identify your needs and figuring out how to satisfy them in healthy ways.
Do something even if you don't feel like it.
So, here's the thing:
You can't force yourself to feel like doing something. You can't decide how you're going to feel. If you do, it'll only make things worse. Instead, try this: take action instead of trying to change your mood or mindset (which is basically impossible).
Doing something even when it's not fun lets us know that we're capable of doing things we want but don't necessarily enjoy—and that gives us confidence in our ability to do more things like this in the future! This is especially important if it's something new; once we start getting used to some activities or habits (like exercising), it'll be easier for us to keep doing them because they become part of our routine. So, start small with something new that might seem daunting at first, like taking a walk outside on a brisk winter day when all you want is for someone else besides yourself who has no idea what’s happening inside your head right now go away and let me sleep foreverzzzzz...
Don't make your self-care into a chore or another responsibility.
Self-care is not a chore. It’s a way to take care of yourself. It doesn’t have to be something you force yourself to do when the mood strikes or something you feel obligated to do every day.
Self-care is important, but if it feels like a burden, then maybe it isn’t working for you—and maybe it never will be. In fact, self-care can be damaging if it makes you feel more anxious or exhausted than before! If that sounds familiar, try doing this exercise: write down all the things that are already on your plate in life (work responsibilities and home responsibilities) and then write down all the things that would make your life better (eating healthier; going for walks; reading novels). This should help clarify whether or not self-care is taking up too much space in your life by creating extra tasks that don't need to exist!
Try to let go of "shoulds" and "musts".
Try to let go of "shoulds" and "musts". These are standards that we set for ourselves and others, but they’re not real. They don't exist in the physical world; they're just concepts in our minds.
Should I exercise? Must I go to work tomorrow? Should I have a baby? Must I buy a house? We all have these ideas floating around in our heads, but they aren't helpful or realistic. The world doesn't care if you get up at 6 AM every day and run five miles before breakfast (if you want to do this, then by all means!). It doesn't matter if you've been working out or eating well—you could still get hit by a bus! You can work as hard as possible at something forever without ever reaching perfection; there will always be more room for improvement. The same goes for other people: no one is perfect, so stop expecting them to be!
I know this sounds depressing, because it is, but here's where self-care comes in: instead of judging yourself based on whether or not you feel like doing something (should), ask yourself why it matters so much that someone else does what they're supposed to do (must). Why does knowing how much money someone makes matter more than knowing how kind he/she is? Why does having children make someone more valuable than being single? Sure, these things may seem important now, but eventually they'll become trivial facts about your life rather than defining principles upon which everything else hinges upon as well
Make time for things that are important to you.
Making time for yourself is important. You shouldn't feel guilty if you can't do everything, or if you can't do it all right now. It's okay to take things one step at a time and prioritise tasks based on what matters most to you.
Remember, self-care is about balance.
Remember, self-care is about balance.
You’ve got to have it all in check to get the most out of your time and energy. Do you work out every day? Maybe that’s too much, and you should do something else instead. Maybe you don't exercise at all? Maybe it's time for a change in your routine so that you can keep up with the rest of your life! The point here is this: if something doesn't feel right or balanced, then stop doing it! You may not know what would feel better until after trying something new, so go ahead and try whatever comes to mind, but remember that balance is key!
The best part about going into this process with an open mind is that once we figure out where our limits are and what works best for us individually (and as a group), we'll discover how fun self-care can truly be!
It's important to take care of yourself by doing things that make you feel good (mentally and physically) in a balanced way!
Self-care is a concept that I’m sure you’ve heard about, but it can be hard to actually put into practice. Self-care doesn't have to be complicated or expensive—it's simply doing activities that make you feel good mentally and physically in a balanced way.
Self-care does not mean:
Doing something for yourself because someone else wants you to (parent, partner, boss)
Doing things for yourself when you're feeling guilty about something (you can also call this "guilt tripping")
Spending as much money as possible on an activity/product because it makes you feel special (luxury items are not always the most effective way to self-care)
Conclusion
Remember, self-care is about balance. It's important to take care of yourself by doing things that make you feel good (mentally and physically) in a balanced way! Don't forget that everyone is different, so we should all find out what works best for us as individuals.
If you're feeling overwhelmed with stress or anxiety and aren't sure where to start with your self-care routine, I recommend taking some time off work or school (if possible), spending time in nature, doing some light yoga poses or meditation exercises - whatever makes you feel relaxed and happy!