I don’t know about you but anytime I see or read something about self-care it’s usually about going to a spa or something that feels like a “luxury”. But in reality, self-care isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity and it can take place anywhere.
And as a yoga teacher, I tend to have conversations around self-care pretty often and you know what I find most of the time?
That self-care isn’t something that most people see as a necessity.
So much so that I wanted to share a few things with you today about self-care:
First, the definition of self-care and lots more information can be found in this article. If you’re looking to learn more about self-care and how it can be applied to your life, this article from the International Self Care Foundation is a great resource.
Second, a list of self-care ideas is below. I wanted to share a long list of ideas in case you’re struggling to find what self-care means for you. Because it really is individual. While a massage is great for one person, hugging a tree is best for someone else. The list could go on and on but this will get you started.
Self Care Ideas List
- Taking a bath, shower, or immersing yourself in water. It’s been raining for what feels like eons now, so maybe just stand outside in it? (only kidding!)
- Asking your partner for a meal at the table with no devices
- Reading a book
- Starting a meditation/mindfulness practice
- Talking to someone you love or miss
- Cleaning or organizing part of your space
- Discovering your love language and discussing with those around you to ensure your needs are met
- Doing yoga (see what I did there?) 😉
- Go hiking
- Do something to make yourself feel wonderful! (That’s what the picture of me above is, got my hair curled by someone else!)
I got this concept from another teacher and it has changed how I approach self-care: there are well filling activities and well digging activities. Your well is what you give from, and there are things that fill that well up, like reading or taking baths, going on hikes for me. And there are activities that dig your well deeper. They tend to be more work like my meditation practice, continued study of yoga, and volunteering. Just as our self-care practices are different, the things that fill up our wells are different. So keep that in mind when thinking about how to practice self-care this coming month!
I would love to hear from you on this topic too. Hit the comment box and tell me what self-care looks like (or feels like) for you. I can’t wait to hear from you!
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