Self-Care September
- by Dana
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in Individuals
September is National Self-Care Awareness Month. So this month, don’t feel guilty for having a little extra “me time”. The term “self-care” has become more and more popular throughout the years, but I still get the question, “What actually is self-care?” from a lot of clients. From my experience, it is definitely NOT eating a whole bag of Doritos in one sitting. Just in case anyone was wondering.
So, let’s talk about it! What is self-care? Self-care is anything that helps you relax, re-energize, and helps improve your overall health. Here is a list of examples of self-care:
-Reading a book.
-Watching movies/tv shows that relax you.
-Go for a walk outside.
-Exercise in whatever way you enjoy and what makes you feel good when you are done.
-Meditation either on your own or with guided videos from YouTube.
-Get crafty! Drawing, painting, sewing, origami, and coloring are just a few great examples.
-Gratitude Journaling. Let me tell you, this is more powerful than you think.
-Try a new restaurant or pick up your favorite meal from a place you already love (I’m a little TOO good at practicing this one).
-Dance, sing, jam out to some music that helps you release some energy.
-Watch comedian videos for a good laugh.
-Take a relaxing bath with some calming candles.
-Journaling about your day: thoughts, feelings, what did you do, who did you talk to, what new people did you met, etc.
-Find your favorite healthy foods and meal prep those for the week.
-Everyday, write down something positive about yourself.
-Sleep! Yes, sleep can be self-care!
-Connect with a friend or family member each day to check in.
-Pick up a new hobby. I know we all have something out there we would love to try!
-Do a digital detox. A little less technology never hurt anybody.
-Get a massage.
So, what happens when we don’t have self-care rituals? We hold on to feelings we probably don’t enjoy having: feeling overwhelmed, bitter, angry, impatient, low self-esteem, and so on. Then, it makes us react. That’s when burnout becomes real, we start getting snappy with our kids or spouse, we hold grudges, and we have a lower level of happiness about life in general. All because we don’t stop and take time for ourselves.
There are so many things we can do to take care of ourselves and it does not have to take long. A big misconception about self-care is that we have to put forth a lot of effort to make time for it, but that’s not true! A 10 minute meditation video before bed, a comedy podcast on your drive to work, parking at the back of the parking lot to make yourself go for a longer walk are all things we can incorporate into our daily schedule.
Maybe, when we stop looking at self-care as a chore and more as something to look forward to, we may actually start to make it a habit. September is the perfect month to start practicing those self-care routines before the stress of the holidays come! Start with one thing at a time and slowly add more when you can! If you could use some help prioritizing self-care in your life, feel free to reach out to us at info@thebalancedlifellc.com.
