Self-Care
"And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.”– Haruki Murakami
The practice of self-care is the ability to focus on tuning in to one’s needs and meeting those needs. Self-care requires regular checking in with yourself and asking yourself how you’re doing and what your body’s asking for. Self-care does not mean the same thing for everyone - what is self-care for one person will likely differ from someone else, and what’s self-care for you one day might not feel like self-care another day.
There are a few different categories of self-care:
✨ Emotional self-care, such as self-talk, weekly bubble baths, saying “no” to things that cause unnecessary stress, giving yourself permission to take a pause, or setting up a weekly coffee date with a friend
✨ Physical self-care, such as prioritizing sleep, adopting an exercise routine you can stick with, choosing healthy and nourishing foods over highly processed ones.
✨ Spiritual self-care, such as attending a religious service, spending time in nature, meditating, incorporating regular acts of kindness into your day, or keeping a gratitude journal.
Additionally, self-care can be further broken down into two categories: temporary and enduring.
✨ Temporary self-care, effects you in the moment and it’s effect doesn’t last long eg: a hot bath to relax.
✨ Enduring self-care, on the other hand, has more permanent effects - eg: practicing mindfulness, as it leads to brain changes.
Everyone’s definition of self-care is and should be different. Self-care can have a positive effect on your health and outlook, and It’s something we very often overlook. Good self-care is key to improved mood and reduced anxiety. It’s also key to a good relationship with oneself and others. ✌🏻
🙏🏼 Namaste, K.
