Do you remember the days when “self-care” wasn’t a thing?
Reading a book?
Listening to music?
Taking a long bath?
Making a four-course meal that takes three hours to prepare, at least twice a week?
Those were the things I used to just… “do.” Without giving them a second thought.
As my schedule became more packed and work became more demanding, doing things like picking up a new book or trying a new recipe, became somewhat of a luxury.
Luxury I no longer had the time for. For a while, the first thing I did after I opened my eyes and the last thing I did before I closed them at night, was to check my email, reach for my laptop and work.
I didn’t really see a problem with any of those things because I love being productive. After a while though, you start spreading yourself thin and start feeling drained, overwhelmed. Your relationships start to suffer, too, because.. well, you can’t pour from an empty cup, can you?
To me, practicing self-care means doing things that make you feel good. Things and activities that nourish your mind, body, and soul. I think it’s important to remember that practicing self-care isn’t a “quick-fix.”
It takes a bit more than a bubble bath and a face mask for feelings of stress and anxiety to go away. With regular self-care practice, you might find those things much easier to deal with though.
If it’s not something you already practice or find it difficult to do, think of self-care as short breaks you give yourself to re-center your focus and restore that energy.
15 SIMPLE WAYS TO PRACTICE SELF-CARE FOR YOUR MIND + BODY + SOUL
