Self Care
Let’s talk self-care. In a world that increasingly does not seem to support or prioritize the health and wellbeing of the individual, it has become more and more important for individuals to reclaim as much as possible their own wellness.
First, it’s important to recognize that some of the reason this hard is due to larger systemic issues, not necessarily individual shortcoming. If part of what contributes to self-care for you is getting routine medical care, but your job doesn’t provide health insurance-that’s not solely you’re fault that it is difficult to access. Additionally, if part of what contributes to self-care for you is feeling safe in your environment (which…yes, is absolutely on the base level of needs) and you’re a BIPOC individual living in society that upholds white supremacy, struggling to access self-care is 100% not your fault. We are not living in a society that supports wellness unless it can be commodified.
All of that said, when it comes to participating in self-care, identify how you might want to feel. If you could envision your ideal emotional life, what is that comprised of? This is going to create your blueprint for how you engage in self-care. As an example, if your ideal emotional life includes feeling less stressed, both emotionally and physically safe, and like you can manage your emotions healthily, self-care behaviors for you might include behaviors that reduce stress like journaling, movement, talking to a friend, seeking out environments where you are supported and safe, and starting therapy.
As a bonus, part of breaking your current cycle and including self-care involves switching up your current system. Many people are in a situation where they wake up, go to work, take care of their children, go to bed, and wake up the next day and do it all again. That’s a lot of have to dos without a balance of want to dos. While we cannot get rid of “have to do” things, what you can do is work a ritual into your days and weeks that is not in service of anything other than your own contentment.
Outside of your blueprint based on your ideal emotional life, pursue protective factors. Self-care protective factors include moving your body (joyful movement, not necessarily related to weight loss or any secondary goals), building community, and taking care of your physical health. Movement helps to boost your endorphins and other neurotransmitters that support wellness when it comes to mood. Community membership incorporates the need for belonging that improves feelings of success, and knowing that others care about you and what happens to you. Finally, taking care of your physical health through preventative care (that IS often covered at no cost by insurance or very low cost if you don’t have insurance) raises your floor to ensure that you’re in the best possible position to problem solve and think rationally.
If self-care is a challenge for you, that’s okay. It’s a challenge for many people in both concrete and emotional ways. It’s okay to need assistance to process what is getting in the way for you and help you to move into a space where you feel good about accessing your own self-care. If you’re in need of assistance with that, click the button below and let’s have a conversation.