"You yourself, as much as anyone in the entire universe deserve your love and affection." -Buddha
The term “self care” refers to intentional actions you take to benefit your physical and emotional health. Self care is not just important for your well-being, it’s essential. So what does it look like? Self care can include things like going for a walk outside or partaking in other forms of exercise, practicing some guided meditation, (such as a mindfulness-based body scan) cooking a healthy meal for yourself, etc.
To some people, self care may seem instinctual. Perhaps you follow a regular exercise routine. Maybe it’s a habit for you to eat a balanced diet. But for others, self care is very much a foreign concept, and it's especially difficult if you're having a bad day. On bad days, seemingly “easy” self care activities can be a major challenge. But it’s crucial to take even just small steps towards caring for yourself when you don’t want to--because that’s when you need it most.
Caring for ourselves doesn’t just meet physical and emotional needs that our bodies and minds have, it also does something much more. When I take a hot shower or watch an episode of my favorite TV show at the end of a long day, for example, I’m proving to my brain that I am worthy of the love that I'm showing myself, even when I am feeling bad.
Remember that self care doesn’t have to be extreme. In no particular order, here is a short list of some of the small things you can do for yourself when anything else just feels like too much:
- Take five slow, deep breaths
- Watch some funny YouTube videos
- Cuddle with a pet
- Read a bit of your favorite book
- Tidy up your desk
- Go to a public space like a coffee shop, and just enjoy being around people for a change of scenery
- Put together a playlist of music you enjoy listening to
- Watch a sunset
- Set a reasonable goal for yourself to achieve within the next week
- Indulge in your favorite food
- Spend some time with a close friend
- Soak in a warm bath
- Write a list of things in your life you are grateful for
- Apply your favorite body lotion or makeup
- Watch a documentary to learn something new about the world
- Sit outside in the sun for a few minutes
- Slowly drink a glass of cold water
- Stretch out your body for a few minutes
- Write a list of things you are looking forward to
- Search the internet for inspirational quotes
- Take a minute to remember that this bad day will be over soon.
