We hear people talking about self-care and how to do it. There is no dearth of available tips and tools when it comes to self-care. ‘Are you sleeping well?’, ‘Have you visited your GP?’, ‘Do you go to the gym or exercise?’, ‘What are your hobbies?’, ‘Take it easy’, ‘Don’t feel overwhelmed, you can do the housework tomorrow’, and the list goes on.
Maybe, you are not sleeping well because you have ongoing pain, or you are overworked or worried about paying your bills because coronavirus has thrown your financial plan in disarray. Or, possums play all night on your rooftop, or simply, your partner snores. You are doing your best to fall asleep, not thinking of all the reasons why you cannot.
Your GP said your tests were normal, and you need to relax a little. You do try deep breathing while watching TV, that helps. Though guilt forces you to count your steps, like on the days when you manage to walk home from the bus stop. Every step counts and you walk a lot around the house right from when you wake up to the time you get to sleep. Well, to be honest, not much of that happens while you’re at work. Not your fault, at all.
You love your hobbies, dancing or painting or going for treks or playing the piano, but there are not many hours in the day to squeeze these in. The weekend is transient, so slim like it is perpetually on intermittent fasting. You tried it too but no, thank you. You get caffeine-call at odd hours of the day, and you love that gluten free chocolate mousse too much to wait even a little bit, no way.
You are not overwhelmed, just a bit tired with the ever-growing stack of dishes catcalling you, and the always-full laundry basket eyeing you from the corner, and oh, the casserole needs to be filled too! What was it about self-care? Currently, you are engaged with that oh-so-delicious medical drama or the action-packed thriller. That’s lifesaving!
Self-care, how will you fit that in? Managing work, kids, chores, droolworthy TV artists, probably studies, and/or the snoring partner, leaves you a little drained. You are holding yourself so tightly, you will not even admit to being exhausted. You will not accept that you need that piece of chocolate, you feel guilty. You know what, go ahead, enjoy the silky smoothness melting in your mouth, you need that. Maybe, every now and then?
Self-care is more than just taking care of your physical health; it is about how you do it. When you enjoy your favourite TV show, when you crack silly jokes, when you smile at yourself, you do self-care.
It’s simple, it’s emotional, it happens every day.