Self care is something that has seemingly made the jump from the small pond to the mainstream. I remember like five-years the place you could really find mentions of self-care on the internet was Tumblr, and now they are everywhere. I think the majority of the population knew that taking time for yourself is far better than the alternative, but there was still an idea that too much of it was selfish.
Today I want to talk about some of the different kinds of self care and what they look like.
Self-Indulgent-
I truly believe that sometimes you need to eat more than the serving size to be healthy in the head. This form of self care is that, and pedicures and face masks. Its buying the new sweater because life is short and why not. Its shrugging off the laundry list of responsibilities on a Tuesday and watching Netflix because nothing is due tomorrow. This is the form of self-care we see most often portrayed in media, but realistically its the one we need the least.
Self-Respecting-
This is knowing your own boundaries and limits. Its knowing that what situations are good for you, and which ones aren’t. It’s trusting you gut instinct, for all that it is worth. Its eating the vegetables, taking the stairs, sleeping, and taking your medication. Its making sure your body, mind and soul have all the need to keeping going at full steam ahead.
Self-Disciplining-
This going to sleep early when your tired. This is doing your homework, and practicing even, though you would rather not. This is getting up in the morning. This is cleaning your room, and making your bed. This is staying home when you feel sick. This is look at yourself in the mirror and realizing if you work your butt off tonight, you can have the weekend to yourself. You don’t really want to do any of these things. But you need to do them, so making yourself do them now is the most caring thing you can do for your future self.
Forward Thinking-
This is five-year plans, bullet journals, budgets, savings plans, vision boards and goal setting. By sitting down with yourself and really thinking about what is you want from life is you helping your future self out in some many ways. Your giving yourself a bigger goal, and a bigger purpose. You have something to get up everyday and work towards. When the going gets tough you will know your why, and have something to look forward to.
Healing-
This is letting yourself feel, without judgement of evaluation. Its letting yourself lay in on the floor, wrapped in a blanket because you have a hard week and there is nothing that you could be doing that can’t be done tomorrow. Its taking the time to look inward and examine your emotions when the time is right. Its letting things roll off your back whoever possible. It’s weathering the storm by looking forward, while also trying to make sense of the past.
Self-Accepting-
This is letting yourself have emotions, and flaws, and things you would like to change about yourself. This is looking at yourself in the mirror on a bad day and being able to at least feel neutral about the person looking back at you. This is sleeping in a little and not getting done to the nines, so you won’t have to use as much concealer under your eyes. Its cut your self some slack, and learning to give yourself grace.This is know who you are, and where you stand, and what you stand for, and not letting anyone get in the way of you and your goals and your dreams. This working to love yourself, for all the amazingness that you are.
Self- Evolving-
This is reading that self-help book, learning how to budget, taking that resume enhancing opportunity, making a new friend, reaching out an old friend, learning a new skill, refining skill. This is the form of self–care that is all about taking what you know about yourself and your comfort zone and expanding it. Its learning more about yourself and the world around.
Self-care as whole is something that has been on my mind a lot lately. As a college student it is really easy to get caught up in all of it and lose sight of myself and my goals. But doing at least one form of self care day, I have really been able to lower my stress levels and stay tuned to my goals.
What are some ways you practice self-care?
