Self-care, it’s a word that is really thrown around nowadays.
But what does self-care mean?
According to the dictionary definition of self-care is noun
- the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one’s own health.
“autonomy in self-care and insulin administration”- the practice of taking an active role in protecting one’s own well-being and happiness, in particular during periods of stress.
“expressing oneself is an essential form of self-care”
- the practice of taking an active role in protecting one’s own well-being and happiness, in particular during periods of stress.
I am so very good at telling other people they should practice self-care, but I’m not very good at making it consistent in my life.
According to an article in the Harvard Business review https://hbr.org/2021/04/theres-no-right-way-to-do-self-care
There is no right way to do self care.
We are being told to meditate, take a long bath, to take a long walk, to read, to get together with friends but the question is what is right for you?
What is it that you do to preserve or prove your health? What is it that you do to protect your own well-being and happiness especially during periods of stress? What makes you happy, what do you enjoy? That is what you have to figure out that is what your self care will be.
For my self-care it really depends on how I am feeling. Sometimes gardening helps me during times of stress. Sometimes it is taking a walk on the beach. Sometimes it is simply sitting down and reading a book.
What about the notion that self care is a discipline. Self-care is a discipline because it’s not something you should do once in a while when the world gets crazy. It’s what you do every day, every week, month in and month out. It’s taking care of yourself in a way that doesn’t require you to “indulge” in order to restore balance. It’s making the commitment to stay healthy and balanced as a regular practice.
As the definition says self care is the practice of taking action to preserve and improve one’s own health or the practice of taking an active role in protecting one’s own well-being and happiness.
We have to learn that self care is a right that we have and that it is okay for you to take that time to take care of you.