Redefining Self-Care
- Hawa K. Bond
- Aug 31, 2024
- 2 min read
Without a doubt, this one-year challenge falls into the category of self-care. I'm reminded of my words on the topic from July 2020:
My early exposure to the concept of self-care came years ago via the admonishment to book a mani-pedi or take the occasional sick day aka “mental health day” from a stressful job. As the years went on, I came to understand self-care as doing a multitude of things to tend to mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness. A healthy diet. A long walk after work. Keeping a journal. Reading a book. All easy things to do, right? Right… But…
Too few discussions on self-care target the necessity to preemptively secure our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual environment — something that would reduce my need for maintenance activities like mani-pedis and getting away (i.e., escaping). Here’s what I mean…
If I did work I loved that fed my spirit and reflected my life-purpose, how often would I need a spa day? If I didn’t engage in troubled relationships that continually depleted me, how often would I need to lock the bathroom door and disappear into a warm bubble bath? I have come to recognize self-care as the preemptive and challenging work of guarding my wellness from the door — not finding ways to escape any chaos I co-created.
While you’re making your self-care plan, add these things to the walks in the park:
1. Learn the power and simplicity of the word “No.” Let your “no” be a complete sentence. Stop spreading yourself so thinly that you no longer fit into your own calendar.
2. Demand respect in deed, not just word. Demonstrate a deep love and respect for yourself so others who step into your space must do the same. And when they don’t, learn the power of “goodbye.”
3. Get unapologetic about your boundaries. Set those boundaries for you and others. When you find someone testing the waters, be clear. “I don’t socialize with those who gossip about each other, because I never know if I’ll be next.” “I don’t date men who aren’t kind to their mothers because I find that telling.” Set your boundaries. And when you say it, mean it.
Play with this fun exercise of identifying the preemptive actions that guard your precious wellness. Really run with it, because the world needs the magical, healthy, you.
I also recorded podcast episodes on the topic of self-care:
Comentarios