What does self-care actually mean?

For any of you that follow me on social media, you know that I am always posting about ‘Self-care Sundays’. It is an important part of my weekly routine to prioritize my self-care and encourage others to do the same. This became a big part of my life when I found myself working at a job within a system that had little support and never-ending needs. I became burnt out and was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. It was a wake-up call to manage my stress better and prioritize myself and my wellbeing.

I know that there are a lot of different ideas about what practicing self-care means. I firmly believe that there are things we can incorporate into our lives that can create a sense of over-all wellbeing. AND, I also know that not everyone has the ability or privilege to do these things depending on life circumstances (I’m thinking back to my days as a single parent when free/me time was rare). I also think that self-care is individual and unique to you, there is no one right way to practice self-care.

“Self-care means giving the world the best of you instead of what’s left of you”

-Katie Reed

There are things we can try to maintain on a daily basis that build the foundation of wellness. Such as getting enough sleep, drinking water, eating a variety of foods, moving our bodies, and being in connection with others. I view these as self-care activities that help to sustain me when life gets stressful.

When you think about self-care, I would encourage you to reflect about “what fills my cup?”. What makes you feel peaceful, nourished, and fulfilled? Notice how you feel after doing an activity or spending time with certain people. What might meet the need for self-care? For example, some people love going to the gym, or being in nature, some people like to be alone (journaling, reading, sitting with a cup of tea) and some people prefer to connect with others (being social, connecting with friends or family).

Try paying attention to something within your day that might be simple or mundane, but that you can take a moment to notice. This is an act of self-care. For me, this might be pausing to notice the colours of the changing Fall trees or time spent with my loved ones or a cat snuggle. Self-care is not selfish; it is an act of offering ourselves the care and kindness that we all deserve.

Lisa xo