let’s uncomplicate self-care
The past few months I have been seeing more and more posts from friends, family and people I have known for years talking about how self-care is something they just don’t have time for. How life is so busy… who has time for self-care….. These comments got me thinking. How have we all gotten so “busy” that we can’t 5, 10, 15 minutes to care for ourselves? No wonder disease and mental health concerns are on the rise. Then I was curious what do people consider self-care?
Self-care by definition is “a multidimensional, multifaceted process of purposeful engagement in strategies that promote healthy functioning and enhance well-being”. I think as a whole we have overcomplicated this and started looking at it as a luxury vs. vital to our existence. Now I don’t mean taking entire weekend escapes from our lives or luxurious spa treatments. I regard self-care as much simpler; day-to-day things I do to make sure that my mind, my body and my spirit are ready to take on the world. Things such as sleep, nutrition and a minute of silence.
Self-care isn’t one size fits all. A single person has very different self-care needs than a mother of young children, then a mother of children who are grown, then a retired person. Self-care can be meal planning if it means that you are fuelling your body with whole foods over convenience foods. It could be walking from your car to the grocery store if you take a moment to breathe, notice your surroundings and notice how you’re feeling. It can be taking a moment to smile or cry, a moment to check-in and really notice how you are doing.
For me when my mind is needing some attention I am more negative, judgmental, short-fused with those around me. This is often a time that I enjoy quiet, maybe a one-on-one hike with a friend, or time by-myself. I will take the time for a bath, pick up a book even if it's for only 5 min or get up a little earlier to enjoy coffee by myself. I check in with my bedtime; make an effort to get 8 hrs of sleep. I will be honest I haven’t consistently had 8 hours of sleep since our eldest was born 10 years ago. But I try!
For me, my body is the area that is the simplest for me to lose track of but also the easiest for me to get back on track. My body requires daily movement; as simple as walking our kids to and from school, taking our dog for a longer walk, doing yoga even if it's only 15 minutes. I try to get 60 mins of movement every day. This doesn't mean you have to have an intense exercise regime. It's about doing something that you enjoy! I also focus on my nutrition; I follow a gluten and dairy-free way of eating. This is what supports my inflammatory levels best. In times of multi-directional pull; I forget about my nutrition. Leaving me feeling low on energy, my body sore and my mind not clear. I try to make sure I drink my water, consume my fibre and that I eat foods that work for my body.
My spirit is one that I have been focusing on this year. For me my spirit is my core values, honouring me and making time for things I truly love. I have always made time for physical fitness; this was my way of shedding pent-up stress. But the more I started listening to myself the more I realized I wasn’t honouring my creative side, the side that wanted to learn. I had stopped listening to myself. Since January I have been spending time here asking myself lots of questions. Questioning my emotional reactions and my thoughts. Taking responsibility for things that are mine and saying good-bye to that that belongs to others. For me, this area doesn’t come easily and is the place I needed the most work. But it's been fun getting to know my spirit again.
I ask that you all please STOP overcomplicating and underestimating self-care. Please START making it a priority. Even if it’s only 5 mins a day. I challenge you to bring awareness to you.
Let’s start making ourselves a priority!!
