Self Care: Do we look after ourselves?

I was in a discussion with a friend when this topic of caring for self and others came up.  It seems a natural act of love that we should care for the people that we love.  We look after them when they are not well, we cook for them, we take them to see a doctor and practically do all that we can to show our love.  That is all normal and comes so naturally for each of us.  However, when we talk about looking after ourselves, the same effort does not seem to apply.  We don’t sleep well, don’t eat well and certainly don’t exercise, we live a life of stress and anxiety, we work 12 hour days and all to what end?

Why do we neglect self?  Is it because we think that it’s a selfish act?  Do we think that we don’t have time for it today but will do it tomorrow?  Whatever the reasons, maybe the best motivation for self-care is so that we can care for others.  What does self-care look like?  Is it going for a massage every month?  Pampering yourself with facial?  Eating organic and exercising 45 mins every day?  I do think that it has some of those aspect but I think that it starts with Love yourself.

How does that look like?

• Be happy and content and comfortable with who you are and where you are in you life today.
• Be grateful with what you have and do not have.  Appreciate everything around you, your family and friends.
• Enjoy the present and be present in the moment.  Don’t waste the moment or time for we can’t get them back.
• Clear the mind and quieten the noise around you.  Take the time to focus the mind and be mindful.  Take a quiet time and spend it meditating.
• Eat healthy, Exercise and Rest well.  Well there is a mountain-full of information and enough said.  Just do it.
• Enjoy your work.  When you are in the zone in the workplace, it’s an amazing feeling and you will also know when it’s a grind.  No matter the situation, find something that you enjoy about it and do it with gusto.  This will allow you to keep on at it.  You will also know when it’s time to move on.  For self-care will dictate that for your overall well-being, moving on is the appropriate course of action.

I am sure that there are things that we can do and you will have a different list.  I encourage you to take a moment and reflect and create a list for yourself.  A list that would work for you.  Write down your priorities or what you love.  Write down what self-care for you would look like.  It doesn’t have to be a perfect or comprehensive list, just enough to get you started.