Stink at self-care? Feel guilty when you focus on yourself? Feeling anxious or depressed or fatigued and can’t seem to get around to doing something about it? Take heart – lots of people struggle with self-care. With skyrocketing rates Mental Health, Substance Use, and Suicidal Ideation During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, June 24–30, 2020 | MMWR (cdc.gov) of depression and anxiety, self-care has never been more important.
Improve Your Self-Care
Many people struggle with self-care. You may feel like you don’t have the time. Or maybe you feel guilty stopping and just being for a moment. If that sounds familiar, take heart. There are some easy steps you can take!
Steps for Better Self Care
1. Start small
Singing up for three exercise classes a week may just be a set-up for failure. If you’re wanting to improve in self-care, start small. Try having a glass of water each morning. Maybe gently rub lotion on your hands before bed. Caring for ourselves can grow on itself. Start small to plant the seeds and move up from there. Don’t look now – If you’re reading this, you’re already doing it!
2. Schedule self-care
If you’re busy with work, shuffling the kids around, digging yourself out from under a pile of laundry, it’s super easy to forget YOU! When you schedule self-care, you’re scheduling you.
3. Set Self-Care Timers
Make that phone or watch work for you. Schedule an alarm to go off any time or throughout the day at any interval of your choosing. When it goes off, take a deep breath. Or stretch your body. Or drink some water. If you’re prone to forgetting you even have needs, this is a great way to get someone (or in this case something) else to help you remember!
4. Enlist a partner
Hey! Look at that! Your friend stinks at self-care too! Or maybe your co-worker is awesome at it. Partnering up with someone to improve self-care can make it easier and more fun. Make plans to check out the new coffee shop together. Ask if you can tag along for that lunchtime walk at work. A little accountability kick can go far to getting more self-care in your life.
5. Look below the surface
Maybe you were raised by a parent who taught you that you’re not allowed to have needs. Maybe you were in a relationship with a narcissist who got angry if you had even an inkling of self-care. Maybe you’ve been going so long without considering yourself, you don’t even know what you need. Understanding what is hijacking your self care ambitions can go a long ay to paving the road.
Now what?
Not sure where to start with the self care business. Or maybe you could use a little more support. If so, reach Get Started – Oak Point Counseling. That in itself is an act of self care. And a step towards adding a little more You in your life!
