What is Self-Care Anyway?
The term “self-care” is used a LOT in the wellness space. Up until recently, I personally felt that the term was overused because the stereotypical acts of self-care were, to me, unachievable and totally unrelatable. Don’t get me wrong, I would LOVE to sleep in/get a massage/have a bath/hike a mountain, but could someone please tell that to my 3 year old and 5 month old?!
In a previous chapter of my life, these things were SO much more achievable then what they are these days. What I've come to realise however, is that I’m OK with that! I just had to flex my creativity muscles a little more, and not get caught up in the comparison games.
Re-shaping the meaning of “self-care” to suit YOU
Self-care is simply ONE way to describe that act of looking after yourself. As we meander through life, the way we look after ourselves will change as our circumstances and goals do. So we need to be creative, yet consistent, in how we take care of ourselves.
For me, cooking food from scratch, squeezing in an early morning walk before anyone’s awake, turning off the TV at night and reading a book, putting a candle on, baking with my kids, watching them sleep, picking veggies from the garden, writing, mowing the lawn, eating nourishing foods, de-cluttering, jumping on the trampoline, calling my best friend and listening to podcasts are ALL acts of self-care.
Do you take the time to cook your kids nourishing meals, and make sure they’ve got lunchboxes full of healthy foods; or race to work to ensure the staff have everything they need for a smooth day… but fly through the day relatively unprepared yourself?! Five minutes of quiet time to eat a meal (without distraction) sounds like paradise for so many people, and something’s got to give. It’s time to treat yourself as kindly as you treat others.
Where the nourishing bit comes in…
Eating is really the foundation of self-care because, well, food literally keeps you alive and well. You cannot live without food. So, seeing as we have to eat, you might as well eat in a way that builds a strong foundation for your physical and emotional wellbeing right?!
Eating nutritious foods creates a kind of “health-promoting-domino-effect”. Not only will you feel happier, more productive, clearer minded, and stronger; but your choices will influence those around in ways you cannot measure and will probably never appreciate. When you prioritise your own health, you’re putting your OWN oxygen mask on first… and THAT is a standard we should all be setting.
How to Eat for Self-Care
Slow down. Rushing is often a choice. Take a few things off your plate, shuffle your tasks and delegate so you set the pace to be able to prepare simple yet healthy meals or snacks. If you need to, take a day off every now and then to slow your game down.
Recognise your personal challenge areas. Ask yourself, “What’s the REAL challenge, right here, right now?” Is it overeating? Is it alcohol? Is it sugar? Is it not eating enough? Is it a lack of inspiration? Is it fatigue? Don’t try to change everything at once, instead, focus your energy on that big issue. This will give you the most return on your investment.
Don’t over-complicate things. While making bliss balls or raw slices for the week might be on your to-do (wish) list; make it easy for yourself by keeping things super simple. A handful of nuts, a piece of fruit or a boiled egg is just fine.
Stop being so hard on yourself. Aiming for dietary perfection is a waste of precious energy. Do the best you can, and just keep making small improvements over time.
Don’t rely on motivation. Whilst having motivation initially is really useful, it’s not what’s going to keep you going. What will keep you going is grit, energy, belief and commitment.
Shift out of auto-pilot. Rather than defaulting to what you’ve always done, pause and consider something different. It might be a different type of yoghurt, or a different vegetable, or a different meal. Be creative and be present in your choices.
And finally, you have to really want it. We’re faced with more convenient (aka ultra-processed) foods than ever before, and in an era of ‘busy-ness’, it can be incredibly difficult to say NO. You have to be different, mindful and go out of your way to choose the good stuff. You are worth the effort and investment.*Article also published on Medium.
