HOW TO FIND THE ‘SELF’ IN SELF-CARE IN A PANDEMIC
Ever since the start of the pandemic, there has been an outcry amongst young and old alike about ‘self-care’ everywhere across the world. But why something as basic as taking care of oneself- physically, mentally, and spiritually became so important suddenly is quite amusing and peculiar. What does ‘self-care’ mean anyway? Is it just one of those trending topics on Instagram, or is it much more than taking a shower with scented candles and essential oils?
The earliest resonance of the concept of caring for oneself faintly starts in our childhood when parents hand that pack of crayons and paint or a book on good habits into the hands of young, empty, and enthusiastic minds, with full of zeal looking forward to what life has to offer. No matter how far the green colour of the mountain and trees trespassed their pencil-drawn borders, as a child we can all remember how happy it made us feel to fill that empty canvas with colours. This feeling was so therapeutic that most of us when got trapped inside not just our homes, but our minds too, decided to revisit this hobby which made us feel whole again. For some people it was painting that gave them the sanity to survive; others vehemently shared stories of their famous Dalgona coffee or the plants they begin to nurture under their roofs. This implies that people found solace through activities that had been long forgotten in the bustling noise of their lives. This was a huge step towards mental well-being; though self-care doesn’t stop there.
It starts with taking decisions to remain true to oneself, especially when the truth is hard to admit. Social media makes this difficult but not impossible. Turning off notifications might be a starter for change or taking some time off it also serves the purpose of finding peace within oneself. Thus, the important realisation to add into one’s self-care routine is that the concept of true self exists only if all three states- physical, mental and spiritual exist harmoniously within us. Studies show the human brain has around 6,200 thoughts a day even while we sleep, so it is agreeable that the brain deserves some rest and the widely proven technique to achieve this is meditation. Sitting down and thinking about nothing might just be everything. Last but not the least, maybe a minute or two of planks a day might keep the doctor away!
Bristi Choudhury. 3rd Year, PCM
