In my first blog, I alluded to the idea of self-care and how important it is to us all – all of the modern gurus talk about it and it’s all over social media – but what actually is it?!
Self-care is whatever it means to you. It doesn’t have to be finally convincing your partner to give you 30 minutes so you can rush into a a hot bath with a bath bomb you hid from the kids on Mothers Day, a rubber duck, a glass of vino and a soggy magazine (although this gets my vote when my three haven’t already pinched the day’s hot water) – it is your time and your choice.
If you had a free 15 minutes now, what would you do with it? Whether it would be reading a book, catching up on a bit of your favourite boxset, throwing on a facemask, enjoying a hot cuppa in the garden, turning up the volume on your favourite tune and dancing like no-ones watching, or having a cat nap on the sofa with your pet….it’s your choice, that’s the point – what feels good for you is unique…to you! Our bodies and minds are so clever, they often tell us what we need, we just need to learn how to tune in and listen.
Meditating and yoga have been the self-care favourites recently, but again, one size doesn’t fit all – they’re not for everyone. I’ve had meditating on my ‘to-do’ list for longer than I can recall but there’s a reason why I still only do it sporadically and half-heartedly! Think about what fills your cup and gives you joy. You may have to track back to a time when life wasn’t so crazy and you remembered to find little pleasures and give yourself a break. We all need that time but we can’t just hope that we’ll find it somewhere.
Instead, book self-care into your diary like you book in team meetings and dentist appointments – but this is an appointment with yourself – and you are the most important person to take care of and book out time for.
If you have time to manage the responsibilities and actions of being a spouse, a parent and a team member or business owner, you have the time for you, you just need to prioritise it, even if it’s just five minutes a day – your body and brain will thank you for it and that self-care time will fuel you with the energy and positivity you crave to make all of the others jobs, especially those for other people in your life, seem so much easier!
So get out your diary today and book in that time – it’s non-negotiable for your wellbeing.
Comentários