Self-care is something that I make note of in my writing on a regular basis. Why? Because it matters…a lot.
“Self-care is a sustainable and holistic investment in our minds and bodies. It includes taking good care of our physical health, most notably by eating healthily, exercising, and sleeping well. But it also entails looking after our minds and emotions, which can take the form of setting time aside for activities that nourish our spirits and learning to understand how we can best replenish our energies” (Schaffner, 2020).
When we make self-care a priority, we also make our health a priority. Without health, what are we left with?
Self-care is of particular importance when we are interacting with toxic people. It helps to keep us strong in all ways – mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. And while it can be incredibly challenging to find time for self-care, with toxic people either demanding all of our attention or finding ourselves too upset or stressed to focus on personal care, carving out even just a few minutes whenever possible can make a major difference. Some narcissists, for example, create situations where we can become regularly fatigued (as with events that result in sleep deprivation), which weakens us on a holistic level. They know that their targets are easier to control and manipulate when their defences are down. So, if we can keep ourselves as strong as possible, we can have a better chance of not becoming absolutely overwhelmed and exhausted, which leaves us unprotected from the whims of disordered individuals. Also, if we’ve chosen low- or no-contact with a given person or people, we need strength to uphold our boundaries and adjust to and thrive in the changes that we have chosen for ourselves.
No matter who you are or where you are at in your life’s journey, self-care truly is essential. What self-care looks like for each person – beyond the basics of healthy eating, exercising, and adequate sleep – will be unique. We need to tune into ourselves to find what soothes our soul and gives us energy. Once we know what works for us, self-care routines are helpful. But, as was mentioned above, if regular times for self-care are not currently possible, then fitting it in where we can is the next best option. A healthy snack, taking a walk, going to bed a few minutes earlier than usual, listening to music, engaging in art of some kind, chatting with friends, playing with pets…whatever it may be that we can take even a few moments to do, it all empowers us and makes an impact.
Until next time,
Heather
~Natural Clarity Coaching~
naturalclaritycoaching.com
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References
Schaffner, A. K. (2020, May 20). How To Practice Self-Care: 10 Worksheets and 12 Ideas. PositivePsychology.com. https://positivepsychology.com/self-care-worksheets/
