For May, I’m focusing my blog and social media on taking care of ourselves, creating “me moments” and prioritizing self care (look for my “me moments” post next). I’ve had a few ladies ask me, “What is self care?” so as part of my series of definitions, I thought I’d define self care for you.
What is self care?
{I’ve also defined Wabi Sabi and Puttering if you’re interested}
I believe I first learned about self care from Cheryl Richardson, author of The Art of Extreme Self Care, in the late 1990s.
When “me time” became a popular concept, I nodded my head in agreement.
I’m not sure when it started but I’m guessing it was meant to address what I consider the curse of my generation: BUSYNESS.
I’ve written about busyness before:
Too many women experience burn-out and end up resenting the very people and activities they love most.
I’ve been there, which is why I’m now a big self care advocate.
Self care helps prevents burn-out and live more whole-istic and purposeful lives.
What is self care?
- prioritizing your well being with the knowledge that what your people need most is a whole, happy and healthy YOU
- standing up for yourself and your needs to become that best version of yourself
- regularly checking in with yourself to ascertain what you need and how to address those needs (one day you might need a long walk, another day you might need a long talk with a friend)
- addressing those needs, whether implementing a daily workout regimen to strengthen your body or getting weekly manicures to pamper yourself
- being strategic by scheduling girlfriend time, an afternoon off or a spa weekend…and treating it just like any other important appointment
- being willing to accept help
Practically speaking, on any given day, self care could mean getting a full eight hours of sleep or spending an hour writing that book you’ve been meaning to publish.
Self care is not limited to pampering or time alone, it’s making time (not taking time) for what matters most to your well being instead of succumbing to the tyranny of the urgent.
Please know that the busier you are, the more important self care becomes.
It’s like this…
[tweetthis]Spend thirty minutes on self care every day. If you’re stressed or busy, spend an hour. #selfcare #blogger[/tweetthis]
I know how easy it is to allow self care to slip to the bottom of your priority list.
The committee, the kids, the in-law, the neighbor…they email, yell and pester…but your bath tub is silently calling out to you, too.
Answer the call. Take the bubble bath.
I hope this post on what is self care helped you! Explore my other self care posts by checking out the featured posts below, too. Contact me if you have questions or ideas and look out for more posts coming up!
Yes, I believe we need to pour into ourselves what is needed, whether spiritual or physical so that we can pour out again onto others. We CANNOT run on empty………that is why GOD created the Sabbath! Thanks for all your suggestions and this was a great post Tabitha!