Myth-Busters: Self-Care Edition Part #1

This week I thought I would debunk some thoughts around self-care. While it may mean different things to different people, the principles remain the same. It differs in dosage, but everyone requires a level of self-care in their daily lives. When pursuing this, consider the following:

Self-care is NOT selfish: Putting time and attention towards yourself is in no way selfish. In order to function at your best and ensure that you are emotionally, mentally, and physically equipped to handle the various challenges of whatever you are facing, you must dedicate time to ensure that you are where you need to be in all these facets. Furthermore, being at your best directly impacts your interactions with others, showing how caring for yourself is also beneficial to others.

Self-care is NOT a one-time thing: It is considered an ongoing process in building resilience against any troubles you may have along the way. Self-care should not be something you break out when you’re on the brink of a breakdown; the goal is to ensure longevity in your mental health and wellbeing, which takes continued effort and regular maintenance.

Self-care is NOT time consuming: It does not require a large time commitment but rather a level of daily self-care. It can be as simple as setting a timer to ensure that you’re drinking enough water every day, or as elaborate as donning face masks in a bubble bath with a cup of hot chocolate while listening to your favourite podcast. While doing the bigger things are also beneficial, the most impactful and vital are the smaller details. Setting up a regular sleep schedule, drinking water, keeping a clean room and house, and maintaining hobbies are all examples of self-care that can improve your day-to-day life.

Word of the week: I. This pronoun perfectly summarizes the message of this week; no matter how busy life can be, it is always essential to give time and attention to the self. By ensuring that you are physically, mentally, and emotional at your best, you not only give yourself the opportunity to thrive in the other areas of your life, but you also can become more in tune with your own identity and emotional needs. As significant as the other areas of your life are, the wellbeing of the “I,” of oneself, is imperative to finding success and happiness in life.

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, suggestions for word of the week or topics you want to hear more about or are interested in volunteering for the Health Matters Society, please email me at [email protected]. Until next week. Stay positive, stay healthy, and stay safe!

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