Self Care is So Much More Than Spa Days
Society's idea of self-care is so wrong. Self-care is not about spa days, lotions, massages, or any other extra expense.
Real SELF-care is about putting your priorities first.
You don't have to indulge in the latest spa kit (unless you want to), you don't have to book a massage, or go get your nails done.
It's not something you do every few months because your world is hectic, or because you need a break from your life because overwhelm is taking over.
Self-care is done every day. Every week. It's how you maintain your sanity so you don't NEED a break. You want to work on it always.
Related: The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Self-Care
So that leaves you to wonder . . . what IS self-care?
What are examples of self-care?
I am seriously all about spa products. I love baths, Epsom salt, and using those little face masks to make my skin as soft as a baby's tush.
But that's indulging. Will it make your life better? Perhaps for a few minutes. But that's not what we are going for here. Remember, self care is more than spa days. It's showing up for yourself EVERY DAY.
Self-Care is anything that will help you succeed in your day to day life
When you stop to think about it, self-care is actually pretty boring.
Here are a few ways you can practice self-care and make your life easier:
- Sleep. Skip that next show that will take you past midnight, and leave you with a few hours of sleep.
- Skip the alcohol. Do you need it? No. Tomorrow's you will thank you for skipping it.
- Eat a Healthy Diet. Stop eating fast food, or out of boxes. Eat real food.
- Have a clean spot. Even if your entire house is a disaster (I have kids, I get it) have a spot you can always have clean. For me, it's the counter in the kitchen where I make coffee.
- Plan. Plan out your tomorrow. Do things today to make tomorrow easier. Put out your clothes for the morning, or make lunch for tomorrow. Find the socks you know your kids are going to not be able to find tomorrow.
- Go for a walk. Go as much as you can. Walk your dog. Walk your kid. Take a bike. Learn to rollerblade. Get outside and DO.
- Say no when you can't or won't or don't want to do something. You don't have to be everything for everyone.
How Do You Maintain Self-Care?
It's a funny thing about this self-care. You just do it. Every day.
You don't make excuses, you just show up for yourself, and you make yourself a priority.
Decide today that you are going to get up the first time your alarm goes off, and go make coffee, or take your dog for a walk, or work out.
Self-care is maintaining a life you don't need a break from.
Start today.
Here are a few more awesome self-care (of all types) posts:
The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Self-Care
How to Take Care of Yourself When You're Dirt Poor
Yes! Self-care is so much more than spa days! I’m so glad that this is becoming more well known. Self-care is about filling whatever need that you have at the time. We give so much to others, as Moms we need to stop and fill our cups from time to time. You can’t pour from an empty cup and self-care is not selfish.
I wasn’t thinking about it like this for the longest time. Self-care turned into just another thing I had to do as a mom, when I was already exhausted. Then I realized . . . it’s all the things I really need to be a healthy person too. No one is going to make doctor’s appointments for me, or make sure I lay down when I have a fever.
Filling my cup isn’t necessarily taking an Epsom Salt Bath (even though I LOVE THOSE), it’s all the little things that I need to stay the best me I can be.