Self-care is an essential part of our daily lives. It’s the little things we do to make sure we’re healthy and happy, like eating a healthy breakfast or taking a relaxing bath. But it’s also a big part of how we take care of ourselves in times of crisis, when the challenges we face are harder to navigate. Many people use self-care as a way to cope with trauma and stress, and it can be really helpful in these situations.
Self-care is important because it helps us feel more balanced and centered after dealing with difficult situations. It can be hard to stay focused on what matters most when you’re going through something tough, so sometimes it’s good to have something outside yourself that reminds you why taking care of yourself matters and what would happen if you didn’t. Self care can help with this!
Self-care is a simple concept, but it can be difficult to implement in our busy lives. Here are a few ways you can practice self-care that may prevent a crisis:
1. Start small. Try giving yourself one hour per week to do whatever you want—no obligations or responsibilities allowed! If you’re not sure where to start, treat yourself like a kid on the playground: pick an activity that will be fun and relaxing for you, like watching a movie or reading a book.
2. Don’t forget your needs. It’s easy to get caught up in taking care of other people’s needs and forget about your own. But when you don’t take care of yourself first, it can be hard for anyone else to do so—and no one wants to be around someone who’s tired and stressed out all the time! Make your self a priority.
3. Set boundaries with others. Sometimes people need help when they’re going through hard times—but sometimes they just need us to listen, instead of offering solutions or advice right away! Make sure that people know when they’re crossing into “I need help” territory versus “I just want someone who’ll listen.”
4. Take care of your body. Find out what works for YOU! We all need different things in order to feel our best and be our most productive selves. Find out what helps YOU relax whether that’s taking a bubble bath or going for a walk around the block—and then make sure to carve out time for it every day. Your body will thank you later!
We hope that this blog post has given you some ideas for how to care for yourself in a way that feels good and is sustainable. If there’s anything we’ve missed, or if you want to share what works for you, please let us know in the comments!