Lets talk about one of my favorite things: self-care. It’s so important! You have to take care of yourself. As the saying goes “you can’t pour from an empty cup!” So how do you like to replenish your cup?
Everyone’s form of self-care is going to be different, since, and I know this is super shocking and profound, but we’re all different! Though it’s also important to make sure our self-care activities are not actually self-destructive. Don’t confuse ‘What do I ultimately want?’ with ‘What do I want now?’ If your goal is to lose weight, your self-care activity of treating yourself to ice cream after a hard day may actually be more self-sabotaging.
Not all self-care has to be goal oriented or accomplish anything. Doing nothing can be self-care. Taking a relaxing Epsom salt bath and just relaxing in the tub is great! Coloring in a coloring book doesn’t get you closer to achieving any goals (unless that goal is to color or use up all the ink in a marker) but it sure can be fun! Sitting around with your friends (virtually these days) playing a game or watching TV can feed your spirit and be energizing, and that’s enough!
It’s not selfish to take time for yourself. It’s not inherently selfish to have fun. You have to look out for yourself.
How do you know when you need to take care of yourself? What does that look like, feel like, or sound like?
What are your favorite things to do to take care of yourself?
How do you pamper yourself?
What do you like to do for exercise?
What makes you smile? Laugh?
What energizes you?
What comes to mind when you think of feeding your mind, body, and soul/spirit/(whatever imagery applies to you for this third thing)?
What’s the first thing that you think of when you hear ‘treat yourself’? Besides Tom and Donna from Parks and Recreation. How would those characters want you to treat yo’ self?
Take care of yourself. Enjoy yourself. Enjoy your weekend and beyond!