Master Self-Care

Self-care can mean different things to different people. In a way, that can be frustrating when you’re looking for tips on how to do this thing you keep hearing you’re supposed to be doing. Another way to look at it, though, is freeing. Because the definition is malleable, you can make it whatever you want. (Within reason)

Self-care behaviors are things you do that refill you. They restore rather than deplete. They can include: reading, walking, exercising, listening to or performing music, knitting, meditating, a skincare routine, bubble baths, puzzles…

Take a minute to think through what you are doing when you feel most present and at peace. That will give you insight into self-care behaviors that work for you.

Then, look at your daily and weekly schedule and see when you can fit in these behaviors. You don’t have to do them all in one chunk. You can sprinkle them throughout the day and week. These mini-breaks will help you keep from getting overwhelmed.

Look back on my mastering time and mastering motivation posts for tips.

Finally, distinguish between regular self-care and emergency self-care. The former is what you do on the regular to build resilience and keep from slipping into emergency mode. Emergencies do happen (hello 2020).

The emergency self-care plan will help you pause, recharge, and reboot. Keep in mind that knowing how to recognize you are in fight, flight, or freeze emergency mode is just as important. Often, we get so busy we don’t recognize how far we have slipped until we’ve slipped really far.

For more personal guidance, sign-up for my self-guided Personalizing Self-Care 5-day toolkit. (Short and sweet prompts spread over 5 days).

You’ll walk away with a self-care plan for everyday use and emergencies.