The Importance of Practicing Self-Care
Hi everyone! Happy almost summer!! Can you believe it’s already June?! This month I really want to chat about the importance of practicing self-care, especially when it feels like the absolute last thing you have time or energy for. Ironically, self-care is often the most crucial thing we can do when we want to do it the least. In times of high stress or feeling completely overwhelmed, I always try to remind myself that I am capable of tackling the things on my to do list while being kind to myself along the way.
For me, this looks like mantras. I will literally say out loud “I can do this. I am capable of doing hard things,” over and over. The amazing thing about mantras is that you don’t even have to fully believe what you’re saying at first. You just have to say it. Eventually, your emotions and your brain will catch up and get on board with the message.
This time of year can be especially hectic, particularly for families with school-aged children. The countdown to the last day of school is on, fatigue and exhaustion are setting in, and it can be tough to stay focused on work when we’re all eagerly looking ahead to our summer plans. Even if you don’t have kids in school, daydreaming about those vacation days while sitting in the office is easy to do! In these moments, it’s extremely important to be kind to our minds. We’re ready for a break, and the beautiful weather is practically begging us to kick back and relax, even when we need to buckle down and focus. So how do we find that balance? We nourish ourselves through self-care.
Self-care can take many forms. Sometimes it looks like time management. Set a realistic goal for yourself for the day like tackling a project at work, cleaning one room in your home, or finishing up those end of the school year forms, and then reward yourself once you’ve accomplished it. The reward can be anything you like! For example, finishing a work project on a nice day could be rewarded with a walk outside afterwards. The key to self-care is to make it accessible in the moment. If a walk isn’t possible, then maybe completing the project while sitting outside would be a good compromise. Whatever you choose, choose it with intention. Choose something that sparks joy within you and helps you feel good about yourself and your achievements.
Self-care can also look like setting boundaries. Summer time is all about vacations, cookouts, pool days, and enjoying time with friends and family. However, it’s essential that we remain present with ourselves and "fill our cup." Asking for space when we recognize we need it is absolutely okay. It’s not self-centered to ask for space, even from people we deeply care about and usually enjoy being around. Advocating for ourselves and our needs is an important part of life, and it does not make us “too much.” If these statements are resonating with you, I encourage you to reflect upon the feelings they bring up. Setting boundaries with ourselves might also involve making a conscious effort to use positive and affirming statements in our own minds.
Ultimately, self-care is not self-centered; it's a vital part of life and crucial for maintaining our overall well-being. Self-care can be broken down into seven pillars including: physical, mental, emotional, social, spiritual, environmental, and recreational. Self-care might look like following a regular hygiene routine, choosing foods that nourish our bodies, allowing ourselves to rest, going to therapy, practicing a favorite hobby, drinking enough water throughout the day, creating space to feel our emotions, taking vitamins or prescribed medications as directed, and so much more. Whatever we choose, we must choose it with intention. Check in with yourself often and find coping strategies that are accessible to you. Some examples can include deep breathing, journaling, expressing gratitude, positive self-talk or affirmations, moving your body, meeting up with friends, spending time with pets- the list goes on!
I hope this blog post can be a helpful tool for you when you’re struggling to identify ways to practice self-care. Sometimes we overthink it, but it’s honestly very simple. Whatever you do, make sure it makes you feel good. I’m sending you strength to finish out the school year, and I’m wishing you a relaxing, restful, and fun summer! You’ve got this!!!
Author: Kelly Weaver, MT-BC
Editor: Cassadi Kulak, MT-BC