Simplifying the Art of Self-Care
If anything, the past year has been filled with more moments of silence and reflection than ever before. I realized that one of the things that had been keeping me from taking care of myself pre-COVID was the misguided thought that I just didn’t have the time. The reality is, I have always had the time to dedicate to taking care of myself, I just chose not to prioritize it over other tasks and responsibilities. I thought that choosing myself meant not choosing the other areas of my life, which was a lie. In fact, they’re more correlated than I thought. The more I neglect myself, the harder it is to show up for others.
But of course, when I did begin taking time to actively take care of myself, I (unsurprisingly) jumped in headfirst and tried to do it all at once.
Every morning I would try to meditate, exercise, listen to podcasts, make breakfast, and more, all before beginning work or class for the day. It got to the point where even the thought of doing these things was just all too overwhelming of a task. It was then that I realized I was taking the actual care out of self-care and had turned it into a job, which, did not make getting up each day and choosing to do it any easier. This is when I came across a post on Instagram that changed my perspective on my approach completely.
This Instagram post challenged you to do three simple things a day - to nourish your mind, body, and soul. Life is all about balance. I realized that in finding time to nourish each of these aspects of my being each day, I could still manage to take care of myself while not having to do it all. Obviously, I know that self-care is not just pampering yourself, it takes a lot of difficult work and persistence. But the second things become too overwhelming or way too much, then it’s time to take a step back and evaluate what is working for you and what isn’t.
Nourishing your mind, body, and soul every day can be so easy. The first step is to figure out the things that nourish you, personally. What fills you with a sense of inner peace? Make a list for each category (mind, body, and soul) and figure out which simple tasks are achievable and applicable to you. Each day, pick one task (or more, if you’re up for it) from each list and make it a point to complete it that day. You can switch it up each day or repeat tasks - whatever feels right for you.
Here’s a peek at the list that I refer to:
MIND
Listen to a new or favorite podcast.
Read a book.
Write a list of things that make you happy right now.
Take a mindful walk (taking it all in with all 5 senses).
Cook a TikTok recipe you’ve been thinking of trying.
Spend 7 minutes decluttering/picking up your room.
Create a mood board.
Watch a new documentary.
Practice gratitude.
Clean out emails, texts, or any other cluttered digital files.
Set a time limit on your phone for social media or log off completely.
Meditate (also incredible for the soul).
BODY
Drink water throughout the day.
Spend time in the sun.
Take a long shower and do all the extra things (hair mask, sugar scrub, face mask, shave legs, etc.)
Eat a healthy breakfast.
Stretch.
Go for a walk or run in a park.
Put together a cute outfit.
Cook your favorite meal.
Try a new form of body movement/exercise (yoga, pilates, swimming, hiking, etc.)
Have a 10-minute dance party.
Take a nap, sleep in, or go to sleep early - basically, just SLEEP.
Snack on fruits and vegetables.
SOUL
Write and speak positive self-affirmations.
Meditate (also good for the mind).
Watch a TV show or movie that makes you FEEL something (happiness, excitement, sorrow - whatever you need to feel that day.)
Water your plants.
Spend time connecting with an old friend.
Watch the sunrise or sunset.
Change my sheets.
Pour out your emotions into a journal (crying encouraged).
Burn a candle (or three).
Say no to something or someone - boundaries are necessary.
Reflect on your emotions at the beginning and end of the day.
Find a passion project (you’re looking at one of mine!) or hobby and spend time contributing to and nurturing it. Not out of obligation, but out of a pure desire to learn and grow.
Simply waking up and choosing yourself each day can be difficult enough. In a world that constantly encourages self-destruction, I hope that this method helps you to simplify the revolutionary act of choosing self-care each and every day.