Self-care... we've all heard the term, but what exactly does it mean? Self-care can mean so many things, and it can look different for everyone! Simply put, self-care is caring for yourself. This can be incredibly challenging at times, as when things get stressful or overwhelming, self-care is often the first thing we "throw out the window"! This makes the stressful or overwhelming event(s) that much more challenging, because we are no longer taking care of ourselves and therefore no longer have a buffer against the stressors.
So, how do we navigate self-care, especially when our schedules can get super busy? Ideally, our schedules would never get "too busy" to result in having to juggle priorities or even give some up temporarily. However, during times where it gets too busy, think small. Self-care is often described as things like going for a long walk, taking a bath, or going to the gym. These are great activities but can take too much time away from a busy day sometimes. In the days where you have little to no time for yourself, what are some little things you can do for yourself throughout the day? Whether it's taking a coffee break at work and getting your favourite cup of coffee, meditating for a few minutes, practicing some deep breathing techniques (one of my favourites is box-breathing), or cuddling your pet/furry friend/companion for a few minutes.
There is an element of trial-and-error in self-care. Some things work great for some people, and not for others. Try different things out, and see what you can incorporate into your busy schedule. The goal for this is to make things even a little bit more manageable than if you weren't practicing any self-care at all.
Take time for yourself, you deserve rest and relaxation, no matter how short of a time it is!
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