Are you saying “yes” when you wish you said “no”?
Are you taking care of others’ needs before your own?
Have you been relying on someone else to take care of your needs?
Well, perhaps you need to stop and make sure your needs are being met. This is called ‘self-care’.
The ‘self’ part of self-care is that you are the one who takes care of you.
The ‘care’ part of self-care is what you need to take care of.
So what it self-care?
Basic needs first. Sufficient sleep, nourishing food, good hygiene.
Then, your emotional needs. Make time for yourself. Spend time with people who you like to be around. Find someone who can listen when you need to talk.
When you take care of your needs first, you’ll have more energy to give to others.
If you’re not convinced, think of the safety instructions in your last flight:
“If you are an adult traveling with a child, put on your oxygen mask first, then put on the child’s mask.”
If you need ideas about what self-care is for you, take out some crayons or a journal, and draw or write whatever comes to mind when you think of taking care of yourself. After you're done, see if you can practice some self-care today!
