What is the Right Self-Care for You?

It’s not all bubble baths and yoga classes—though those things can be part of it, it can look vastly different from one person to another. Self-care is the intentional practice of taking actions to preserve or improve your own health—physically, mentally, and emotionally. It involves making choices to meet your basic needs, reducing stress, and doing things that support your overall well-being. It's the necessary foundation for functioning well and showing up fully in your life and relationships.

It might look like:

• Turning your phone off for an hour to have some actual silence.

• Going to therapy because carrying everything alone is too heavy.

• Saying no to a social event because your body (and mind) needs rest.

• Choosing to leave a job or relationship (romantic or platonic) that’s draining your spirit.

• Washing your face and putting on yummy smelling lotion.

• Sleeping. Like, actually sleeping. Not just lying in bed doomscrolling.

Self-care is personal. It’s not curated for Instagram. It’s messy, imperfect, and sometimes uncomfortable. And it takes courage to slow down and connect with yourself. Part of the challenge is sometimes knowing what will be renewing, relaxing, soothing for you. For some people, gardening is a deeply beneficial form of self-care, for others it would cause more stress and ultimately have the opposite effect. Get to know what is best for you. Again, not what is hot in social media right now, but what is truly best for you. Give yourself permission to have a variety of activities and actions that provide deep, meaningful, personal care for you.