For a while now, I have felt like “self-care” is a buzz word when discussing social media and lifestyle, but there seem to be a lot of different ideas as to what is self care is and can be. Is it yoga? Is it a sheet mask? Is it scrolling social media?
My answer is that I think self-care is different depending on who you are and what you need. I don’t think that self-care should be a treat reserved for a special occasion, or something that happens every now and again. For today, I thought I would share the things that I do in the name of self-care based on what my needs are.
Sleeping Early and Sleeping In
Being a workaholic, self-care for me is sleeping. In middle school, I had a physical education coach tell me that once you lose sleep, you can never truly catch up on it just because of how time works. While I remember being told, I sadly never listened. At the time, there were too many books I wanted to read and not enough time in the day. My classmates probably remember that I could finish a book in a day, but what they didn’t see was me reading well into the night.
Then when I got to high school, there were a lot of late nights of working, of cramming, or some combination of both. And I could do it back then, I think because I was young and hadn’t lost so much sleep yet, but then I got to college and I seriously struggled to stay up late for any reason. I’m at the point in life where if I do not get at least 7 hours of sleep, I am not a functional human for longer than 6 hours.
While there are people who would say, “I can sleep when I’m dead,” I cannot live like that. So now, as self-care for me to be my very best self, I make sure that I sleep at least 7 hours, and more on days that I don’t have to work late or wake up early.
Skin Care is Holistic Care
Your skin is the largest organ when it comes to your body, which is why I have no problem spending money on my skincare products. The price point for my skincare products runs from $3.25 USD to $185 USD, and the reason that is so vast is because some of it is medical-grade. That doesn’t even go into the waxing, facials, or the pedicures I get done.
Is that expensive? Maybe. Would I say it’s worth it? Absolutely.
I think part of it is peace of mind, and the other part of it is that I feel great when my skin is looking great. Therefore, by taking care of my skin and preventing breakouts, wrinkles, and skin cancer, I feel better about myself. It makes me more confident in myself, and I also use it as part of my night time routine. There used to be times where I have struggled to fall asleep, and because I now have made it a habit to do my skin care before bed, I fall asleep easier after doing my skincare. It’s an investment into myself and my well-being, and that is a good investment long-term.
Exercise is a GREAT Stress Reliever
The beautiful, smart, and stunning Jackie O once said, “Sometimes self-care looks like hard work.” I find that it is very much true when it comes to exercise. A title I don’t think that I will ever be able to claim is the title of an athlete, because the idea makes me groan on the inside.
I don’t think I really enjoyed exercise until I went boxing for the first time. It was a challenge, it gave me something to take out my frustrations on, and I always felt so accomplished after I finished a class. I loved it, but it’s intense to keep up with all the time. That’s probably why I eventually fell out of it. I’m working on trying to get back into it though, or find something that has the same effect.
An exercise that I find to be more relaxing and just a good way of getting in touch with nature is that I love taking Damian for walks. He always tries to keep me out for at least half an hour (even when I’m in a hurry), and it’s great that I get to take care of myself and spend time with him. Being outside with Damian always reminds me to live in the moment, and in our fast-paced society, I really appreciate the reminder.
Grace Has Become My Best Friend
When my friends are hard on themselves, I am quick to remind them that we are our worst critics. Reflecting on that, I can be so hard on myself, and the reality is that I would not take it if someone else were to speak to me the way I speak to myself in the hard times. I’ve gotten better at catching myself in these moments and stopping myself.
The truth is that I think it’s a result of the comparison game, along with the crazy high expectations that I place on myself. Now I try to remind myself that not everyone’s story is written the same, and I’m working on being comfortable with where I am. I’ll get to where I need to at my own pace, and I am becoming more and more okay with that.
How do you do to take care of yourself? Is there something you wish you did more of? How do you define self-care? Tell me in the comments below!
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Love Always,
Kristi My
Kristi My Dao 