Are You Doing Self-Care All Wrong?
The topic of self-care is one that has been discussed openly and often over the past decade. But for many, the concept of self-care is one that is still a bit mysterious, if not downright confusing.
What Is Self-Care?
First, self-care is a practice and a commitment we make to ourselves. It is any activity we do deliberately to support our physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Not only does the right kind of self-care improve our health and life, but it can also improve the relationships we have with others.
Some examples of self-care might be:
- Creating better habits
- Eating right
- Getting plenty of quality sleep
- Exercising
- Meditation
- Spending quality time with loved ones
- Making time to enjoy a hobby
- Learning something new
Self-care isn’t always fun or easy, but you do it because you know that the activity is what is BEST for you. In this way, self-care is a bit like acting as your own monitor, making sure you do the things that your mind, body, and spirit need.
What Self-Care Isn’t:
Self-care isn’t necessarily about making yourself feel better. To clarify, here’s an example of two people:
Person A has had a very bad day. When they get home, they change clothes, go for a 30-minute walk, then cook and eat healthy dinner that refuels their body. This is good self-care.
Person B has also had a very bad day. On their way home, person B stops at the store and gets a 6-pack of beer and a gallon of ice cream, then spends the entire evening on the couch drinking and eating in an attempt to make the bad day go away. This is not good self-care.
Self-care is about making decisions and taking action, based on knowing what is genuinely good for you.
Self-care can also get be confused with pampering, such as pedicures and other beauty treatments, which tend to be quick fixes to make ourselves feel better in the moment.
At the end of the day, self-care is a commitment to yourself to live, grow, and evolve in healthy ways. It means making choices that will lead to your best self and greatest potential.
If you would like help to develop your self-care strategies, please contact us today!
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