When you think of self care, what do you think about? Napping? Taking a walk? Going to Target all by yourself? A girls trip? Self care, like people, comes in all shapes and sizes. It varies person to person and as we get older, our version of self care changes. We have to adjust our own version of self care in order to make it fit into our lives.
Self care is important … EXTREMELY important. We moms / wives / friends / coworkers give and give until we are depleted. If you think you don’t have a few minutes to take care of yourself, try to carve out a small amount of time. You have to adjust your version of self care.
You don’t have time to go to the spa or go for a run alone? I know I don’t. So I changed my self care. Now in between dropping my daughter off at dance and my son at tutoring, I run to Starbucks and sit in the parking lot for 20 divine minutes all by myself, reading a book or listening to a podcast. I feel better and my mind is more clear afterwards. Some weeks, this is the only time I get to do absolutely nothing and it is so worth it.
When my kids are busy outside, I turn on some jazz, diffuse some oils and sit in the silence (even if it lasts about 19 seconds because my kids love to fight). Voila! Self care. At night, after my kids are in bed, I read a few chapters from whatever book I am reading or I will take a hot bath. No screaming kids or barking dog. No one wants food. Well, no one except me, but you get it.
Journaling is also a form of self care that I have adopted. All of my frustrations, highs and lows, tumble out and I sleep better. I journal while waiting in the doctor’s office, while waiting for my daughter to get out of dance, while watching my kids play outside and after they fall asleep. Everything is written in full stream of consciousness and there is no rhyme or reason for what I write. For me, its both therapeutic and a huge stress reliever.
Self care can be in any form that makes you feel better. Goals are able to be met after self care. Things are more clear and answers come to you easier when you find your self care. If it helps take the load off for a second and gives you room to breathe, then it’s your self care.
We are getting older and so are our marriages and children. Sit on the porch, drink a cup of coffee and just be in your head for a moment. Find what works for your lifestyle. The clarity that follows is so worth it.
This is great Misty love reading your messages. I’m going to try some of your advice?????