You may have heard of Self-Care Sunday.
It's a great idea,
Right?
Give overworked,
Overstressed,
Overextended people a reminder to take some time out for themselves.
It's definitely a step in the right direction,
But in my opinion,
It doesn't go nearly far enough.
The problem with our Western way of life,
Which frankly has infiltrated globally,
Is the idea that self-care is something like church that we attend once a week to relieve our sense of guilt over mistreating others.
Only in the case of self-care,
It assages the guilt we have over mistreating ourselves.
I've worked myself to exhaustion all week,
Now I deserve to read my book for an hour,
One justifies.
Only to dive headlong into repeating what wasn't working in the first place.
Working oneself to the point of exhaustion every week.
How about self-care every day?
Self-care shouldn't be something we have to be reminded about or have to carve out special time for.
It should be as natural as the rising and setting of the sun.
It shouldn't be a once-a-week treat.
It should be ongoing daily activities that one attends to whenever and as often as one can.
Self-care is a devotion to the self.
This little God-given avatar with which we live our lives.
It's not meant to be a part-time hobby or something we really have to think about,
Plan for or fight for.
Trouble is,
For so many people,
It is exactly that.
It's a battle.
We have to fight our pressing responsibilities.
We have to resist the expectations and needs of others.
We have to wrestle with time and limited hours in a day.
We have to plan ahead instead of just designing our lives for self-care in the first place.
I'm telling you,
Self-care doesn't have to be so hard.
Nor does it have to be something so disconnected from who you are.
Self-care is first and foremost an attitude,
Not some switch to turn on whenever you remember it.
Self-care is a vital aspect of overall health and wellness.
It involves taking time to nurture yourself physically,
Emotionally,
Mentally and spiritually.
One of the simplest but also most effective ways to incorporate self-care into your routine is to start your day,
Every day,
With a few moments of quiet reflection.
This may be a prayer,
A few words jotted down in a journal,
Or a few deep breaths to set an intention for your day ahead.
Another important aspect of self-care is physical activity.
Whether it's a gentle yoga practice or a brisk walk in nature,
Moving your body is essential for both physical and mental health.
Make it a priority to engage in some form of physical activity every day,
Even if it's just for a few minutes.
Daily mental and emotional self-care can be as simple as practicing mindfulness or meditation,
Or as involved as seeking out the support of a mental health care professional or group,
If needed.
It's about feeding your mind with wisdom and learning to understand yourself in all the ways you suffer.
Self-care also means setting boundaries and saying no to things that don't serve you.
This can be challenging,
Especially if you're used to putting others' needs before your own.
But self-care is not selfish.
It's an act of self-love and compassion that enables you to show up as your best self in all areas of your life.
And don't forget to indulge in some simple pleasures.
Many are under the impression that this alone is self-care,
But it is really just one facet of it and not nearly as important as the other four.
Still,
Whether it's a bubble bath or a cup of tea,
A good book or a special chocolate,
Taking time to enjoy the little things in life can do wonders for your mood and overall well-being.
It's true that by prioritizing your well-being and making self-care a natural,
Integrated part of your daily routine,
You'll be better equipped to handle life's challenges with grace and ease.
But that is just a side effect to self-care.
Self-care is something to do for the sake of itself,
Out of the love that you are.
So here's my challenge for you in the days ahead.
You may have the best of intentions when it comes to self-care,
Yet you may find that your methods aren't improving your quality of life.
If your self-care is short-circuiting,
I have some questions for you.
Have you ever done any of the following?
Worn clothing that felt uncomfortable,
But instead of getting rid of it,
You continued to wear it.
Chose the stylish instead of the sensible shoes and walked until you got blisters.
Were so busy in your day that you forgot to eat or drink.
Just wanted to get to your destination,
So didn't take car breaks on a long journey.
Sat in an uncomfortable position so as not to disturb others.
Practiced a yoga pose even though something didn't feel right.
Sat with your legs crossed so long that they got numb.
These may seem like fairly insignificant discomforts,
But each of these is a sign that somewhere along the line,
You lost touch with your physical body and you failed to self-care.
Maybe it comes down to our conditioning around no pain,
No gain.
Maybe it's a belief that we have to try harder,
Do more,
Go bigger.
Maybe we've learned all too well to invalidate our own experience.
Or maybe it just boils down to a lifelong disconnect between mind and body.
Mastery of awareness is the road to transformation.
So here's the challenge.
Over the next week or two,
Commit to discover all the ways that you covertly deny your body.
Are you stifling a yawn?
Holding in a fart?
Overeating?
Holding your pee?
Indulging in an addiction that makes you feel ill?
Whatever it might be.
Take a few notes,
And every time you catch yourself,
No need to judge yourself.
Just affirm,
I am committed to authentic self-care.
Be kind to you.
Thank you for listening,
And if you enjoyed this content,
Be sure to follow me here on Insight Timer.
