Recently, I sat down to dig deeper into how women are defining self care. I agree it’s becoming quite a trendy term used for everything from doodling on a note pad to loosing weight to traveling to an exotic place.
I really appreciate that women are taking the initiative to be selfish when it comes to self care, and doing what makes them feel their best.
On my podcast, I always ask my guests, what is self care? They often describe it as a means of giving yourself whatever you need to feel good.
I like this perspective.
It is honest.
And it is different for every person.
I strive to help women find the balance that works for them.
Yet, there is no magic formula. What balance looks like to a single, busy career woman traveling constantly for business may not mirror that an expecting mom relocating to a new state after the unexpected death of her husband. What does self care look like for you?
There is no percentage to determine how many of the 24 hours are set aside for taking care of yourself. We can all agree on that, right?
The balance is whatever works for you. I encourage women to start the day off doing something for their own self care. It may be a 30 minute workout or a 5 minute meditation. No matter what you decide, you’ve made yourself a priority.
I want you, and all women, to be informed about their health risk and know when to seek medical care. Sometimes this is following through with preventative checks, such as a yearly mammogram or pap smear. Other times it’s getting an evaluation for symptoms, like chest pain or an irregular skin lesion.
With this said, it seems to me that self care involves multiple layers that continue to evolve. Each new layer also requires it’s own unique processes.
What you need today may be different tomorrow, but one thing I do believe to be true, you have to ask yourself these questions.
What is it that I need?
How can I make this a priority?
What and/or who can help me?
As a woman I want you to think about your health from various aspects that include mental, physical, and spiritual levels. For example women experience heart related problems, like heart attacks, primarily due to lifestyle behaviors. The risk can be reduced in this area by things such as reducing stress, physical activity, and healthy food choices.
This type of self care isn’t always the most exciting or easiest to implement, yet it is a necessity.
Again, self care is something different to everyone reading this. My hope is that you consider the other areas where you lack self care that are also impacting your life in ways that can be improved.
