Self Care 101

The wellness trend is a hot one this year but unfortunately, many people have the vibe wrong. Self-care is about so much more than soaking in a hot bath, grabbing a pedicure, or drinks with the girls.

While all of the things above can be a part of wellness, the bigger picture is missing. We’re setting moms up for failure by telling them that they “should be okay” if they schedule in that bubble bath and then question why they’re not.

In this episode I want you to learn how to truly THRIVE. Because that is what self care is.

JUMP to the resources mentioned in the episode.

What Is Self Care?

We need to place more focus on the true value of our overall wellbeing- not just relaxing. Our society has taken this movement and run with it in a way that is pampering, relaxation, and indulgence. And while I get on board with those areas, we’re missing the other components to overall wellbeing.

The International Self Care Foundation says it best when they state “… is what people do for themselves to establish and maintain health, and to prevent and deal with illness”

While I adore a bubble bath too (though kids tend to jump into mine!), a bubble bath will not solve your problems.

What Should Self Care Look Like?

This is another area of health that I think people get drastically wrong: there’s no perfect system(s) for taking care of yourself. Everyone is unique and thus everyone’s process is going to be unique.

A great wellness routine should work around all of the pillars below:

movement
food
stress-relief

If the point of self-care is to improve health than we should be placing our focus on the daily habits that add up to optimal health. And while bubble baths rock, they only fit into one of the main pillars and they’re a tricky one to do frequently.

Where To Start

I truly believe that optimal self-care means health, wellness, and happiness. And while we’re all bound to have bad days, stressful moments, and frustrations it’s how those things are handled that make a difference.

And since we’re all different, the first step to a self-care practice is self-reflection. Now, I will full-on admit I never saw myself uttering those words without laughing. But here I am.

If you’re going to move forward, you need to know where you’re at. This means taking a few minutes to really decide what makes you happy, what to improve on, and how to work it into your days.

It’s hard, it’s uncomfortable, but it works.

5 Self Care Practices You’re Overlooking

If a self-care routine is geared towards keeping us healthy and happy, we’re overlooking to the small stuff

Quality food: a simple habit that’s so far off the realm of self-care it’s insane. And yet fueling your body with nutrients is definitely self-care. I eat for fuel, for nourishment, and keep up with my kids. Taking care of my body with quality food IS self-care

Exercise: again it comes down to taking care of our bodies. I lift because my body responds well to it and because I want to keep up with kids. Working out and movement make me a more patient mom, it helps me relieve stress.

Getting Outside: a mood booster, a great place to think, and beneficial all around for health.

Mindfulness or Meditation: I don’t think you need to completely find your zen but being able to manage stress and be present helps you system ad your mind

My point is, it’s the simple things that classify as self-care and it’s all-consuming. There is no one perfect activity or system. You need to be doing things on a regular basis that:

fuel your body (hydration, food)
feel good for your body (workouts, general movement, stretching)
help you stress less
make you happy

Bubble baths are amazing but they’re only one piece of the puzzle. Do small things every day that help your mind and body to work together.

Recharging Activities

Need a few more ideas on how to boost your mood, stress less, and recharge? The activities below are great examples of stimulating your mind or doing something you love.

read a book
learn something new
bake
nature walk
rock out to a wicked playlist
listen to a podcast
let the light in – open the curtains!
stretch
journal
turn off notifications

My wish for you this week is that I want you to take some time to find out what truly soothes you and how to work that into your days or weeks. This is what will make you THRIVE.