Self-care: More than a buzz-word
Written by: Rasta Bagheri, Advocate
As we are moving through the school year and entering the holiday season, I wanted to take a moment to remind everyone of the importance of practicing self-care.
I know we hear about self-care often, but sometimes it doesn’t sound like much more than a buzz-word even though it is so much more than that. Below are a few common misconceptions about self-care:
Myth #1: Self-care is a luxury
Truth: Self-care is necessary for our well-being, and is a practice that should be incorporated into our day-to-day life
Myth #2: Self-care is unaffordable
Truth: Self-care doesn’t have to be expensive; there are many self-care practices that are free
Myth #3: Self-care takes too much time
Truth: There are a lot of self-care activities that you can do, even if you only have 5 or 10 minutes to spare. Self-care is meaningful even when done in spurts
Here are a few ideas to get you thinking about incorporating self-care into your routine. Whether you choose an activity from this list or do an activity of your own, try to take some time to do something for yourself today.
Self-care menu:
5 minutes:
- Drink a glass of water
- Listen to a song that makes you feel a positive emotion
- Reach out to someone important to you and let them know what you appreciate about them
15 minutes:
- Read a chapter of a book for pleasure
- If you have plants, check on them and give them some love
- Write in a journal (free-write or reflect on a prompt)
30+ minutes:
- Watch a show or movie you enjoy
- Try to get 8 hours of sleep
- Declutter your closet and donate what you no longer wear to someone in need
Let us know what you think about this self-care menu and if you tried one of these items!
