Self-care is intentionally taking care of your well-being through deliberate and routine actions that rejuvenate YOUR soul.”
Gessie, Author
How can we best care for self? What if in answering that question we realize self-care is about the prevention of sickness? Consider this, what if we as a collective learn through self-care to thrive rather than survive? Where would we be as a society if we work to re-define our communities to de-prioritize work over health? What can we do to re-imagine what we identify as self-care. In this article there may be more questions than answers but we will look at some practical ways in which we can process and speak to our needs and promote our well-being.
1. Put OUR Physical Care First
As often as we can, we should MOVE. Moving our physical bodies to remind ourselves that we are alive and well is important. Deliberately do things daily like walking, moving about in your wheelchair if applicable, dancing, exercising, etc. are great examples of how we can care for our physical. The matter is, it does not matter what we do as long as there is movement or the break of sweat.
2. Make OUR Mental Health a Priority
Mental care is a big component to our over-all health. We should go inward and reflect on how we are feeling on a routine basis about ourselves and our lives. Journaling, although not the only way to care for our mental, it is a great example.
3. Focus on Caring for OUR Emotional
Have compassion with ourselves daily is what emotional care is about largely. When we practice being kind to our thoughts and speaking love and light into our lives we change the trajectory in an onward and upward motion.
4. The Spirit is Key
The spirit animal that comes to mind when explaining community is the penguin. The reason being penguins rely on one another to exist at their best. We as humans are made to be in community with others similarly. We are not meant to do this thing called life alone. Take the time when caring for yourself to be in connection and community with others.
5. Pay attention to how We do and maintain relationships
Relational care can for some may be very similar to spiritual care however this is the intentional committed time you spend with those you love. When we are social we are healthier people mind, body and spirit.
6. Work-Life Priority is Paramount
Setting boundaries allows us as a collective to prioritize other areas of our lives. When we fail to do so other areas of our lives will suffer as a result, including our health, for some.
If our goal is to feel better holistically, then It is not too late for us to do the items listed above. To feel invigorated and empowered to care for our well-being is not a selfish pursuit to take on. Self-care contrary to the images of vacations, spa dates, nail and hair salons that people frequent, requires more. In order for self-care to be done well it requires others, resources, policies, practicality and routine.
To close, self-care is a vital daily choice that we have to make to improve our mood, our well-being, our ability to touch joy, and our knowledge of how to be in relationship with self and others. Our well-being is not a practice we can accomplish alone, but one we can do together.
To add to the conversation, leave a comment and stay tuned for more relationship talk.
