What Self-Care Really Looks Like
Chocolate, bubble baths, and naps all have their place in taking care of ourselves. They’re not bad things, in and of themselves, and can definitely boost our state of mind and re-energize. In fact, a hot bath will do wonders for your soul and body at the end of a long day or if you’re dealing with difficult and stressful issues.
But sometimes, these good things offer short term benefits and, depending on multiple factors and circumstances, they may not always address deeper issues that may be causing us to “need” so much self-care on a regular basis (though a hot bubble bath on a regular basis for ANY reason is hardly ever a bad idea.) So while we shouldn’t discount them altogether, it’s good to look at the wider picture of our lives not just to look for solutions to any specific problem but to improve the quality of our lives in a long term, overarching way.
Here are some things that I have found to be effective in doing just that.
Eating a nutrient dense, unprocessed whole food diet, staying well hydrated, and regular exercise. This is alone is top 90% of all other self-care. A little more about that in this post.
Saying No regularly and without guilt
Letting go of dead-end, pointless endeavors that take more than they give
Ditching folks who discourage you from bettering yourself
Learning to go to God FIRST instead of people
Preferring to accept painful truths over feel-good lies
Being selective about the content you consume
Learning to pick your battles
Learning to read the fine print and the writing on the wall
Getting sunshine and fresh air regularly
Regularly engaging in practical and manual projects that sharpen thinking and keep you occupied
Learning to significantly lower your expectations of other people
Choosing discipline over motivation or inspiration for get things done
Prioritizing sleep
Prioritizing prayer and time in God's word
Shunning drama and gossip like the plague
Water over soda
Holding yourself accountable for the promises you make, including to yourself
Choosing to be self-aware, intentional, and proactive about your growth and learning
Minding your own business
Shunning all forms of drama and gossip like the plague they are
Learning to sniff out shady and not being afraid to walk way when you sense it
Not watching the news
Limiting your social media scrolling and staying out of the comment section
Keeping your personal life private
Redirecting your pain into worthwhile endeavors that will actually improve your life instead of engaging in self-medicating behaviors
Adopting an investment over spending mindset, financially and personally
Learning delayed gratification in all areas of your life
Choosing to live with intention and purpose rather than being a passive NPC in your own life
Take the bubble baths, eat the chocolate, take the nap, buy the lipstick. But let them be a part of a principled, ordered life that is consistently taking care of you long after the initial feel-good buzz wears off.
