What is Self-Care?
Self-care sounds simple enough- just taking take care of yourself, right? Well, not exactly.
Taking care of yourself could be interpreted in a lot of different ways: paying your bills, celebrating your little victories, having your reports ready for work or school, getting enough rest, staying hydrated, eating nutritious food- the list goes on and on.
But, there are two different ways you take care of yourself: in a way to survive and in a way to thrive. When you are taking care of yourself for survival, it is when you are doing what you need to in order to survive life. That is making sure you have the essentials- a place to live, food to eat, good hygiene, and so on. Taking care of yourself in a way to thrive is what self-care (and life) are really about!
Self-care is care for you, by you. Basically, self-care is taking care of yourself so you are able to recover from life and be recharged for it all over again! It is giving yourself the love, relaxation, and break you deserve and is much needed! Self-care can be thought of as treating yourself like you would your best friend. Such as checking in regularly to ensure you are taking care of yourself and your peace of mind. Self-care is an all-encompassing concept, involving the health of your mind, body, and spirit.
Why do I need Self-Care?
You need self-care so you can enjoy life! There is no life that is stress-free, but with self-care, you are taking the time to let your mind, body, and soul recovery from the stress. You are allowing yourself the rest from stress you so desperately need! Self-care makes you better equipped to handle the stressors of everyday life. If you don’t allow yourself to rest and recover, you will eventually experience burnout. The stress you are holding on to, and it’s impact on you, will not go away by itself.
Self-care goes beyond helping with the stress of life. When you are practicing self-care you are making a big statement- “I AM WORTH IT.” You are worth the rest and relaxation time needed to rejuvenate yourself, these are some of the rights you have. You are worthy of letting all of this stress you have been holding on to go. You are worthy of stillness in your day while living in this non-stop world. You are showing yourself that you are worth love, compassion, and respect.
How Do I Practice Self-Care?
There is no one way to practice self-care. There isn’t even one way I practice self-care! Self-care is practiced by listening to yourself. What is your body, mind, and spirit needing from you? Maybe reflect with your journal to see what is really going on. Sometimes the body needs to get moving to feel better, other times it needs to lay down and rest. Sometimes we need to be with loved ones, other times we need that alone time. The list of self-care ideas is never-ending, but I put together this PDF of 10 Free and Easy Self-Care Ideas to help you out! You can even create your own self-care kit to fit YOUR needs!
The key to enjoying self-care is doing so fully. Put away the distractions and fully enjoy what you are doing. Your mindset is very important. Remember that you are taking time for yourself in the best possible way! Feeling guilty or thinking of other responsibilities instead of the self-care action at hand is not how to practice self-care. Instead of enjoying your bubble bath
Self-care is the Best Care
I cannot stress how important self-care is (hence the entire category to be filled with posts all about it!!). I hope my tips help you embrace self-care! How do you practice self-care? Please comment below and tell me what you think of my words on self-care and if you have any questions, experiences or advice to add! If you know someone who could benefit from this article, please show you care and share the bear! Be sure to sign up for my emails and follow on social media to get the most of the positive world of Brightside Bear!
Written with love for you,
Brightside Bear
