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First of all: thank you to everyone who filled in my reader survey! Reading your responses was so helpful and encouraging. If you haven’t done so yet – it is a very quick, four question survey and I would love to hear your opinions on the type of posts you enjoy most. You can do so here. But now, let’s talk about self-care!
Lately, I have been thinking a lot about self-care and what it can look like. When typing “self-care” into the YouTube search bar you are presented with people showing their skin-care routines. I love a face mask as much as any gal, but I belive that taking care of my whole self, involves more than creams and toners.
I am still learning to figure out my own needs and to prioritise them. Especially as a mum, it is easy solely focus on my child and neglect myself. However, that does not benefit my family. Self-care ensures that I have the energy to be a good mum. Also, it removes the burden of responsibilty to take care of me from everyone else.
What self-care looks like for me
I believe self-care essentially means to take responsibility for my own well-being.
And here are a few things I did this week to make sure my mind, body and soul are well looked after.
Flossing
Every night, I floss! I know, this is not as glamorous as getting a facial, but clean teeth make me feel good. When I think about my “self-care routine”, looking after my teeth is my number one priority. (I have a fear of losing my teeth. I don’t know why! But it happens frequently in my dreams.)
Skin care
Speaking of facials though – I have invested into a few more skin-care products lately. All those interrupted nights definitely start to show on my face. So, I have decided it is time to start using eye cream and anti-aging serum. It has been rather enjoyable to do a bit more than just splash my face with water and slap on moisturiser.
Move my body
I didn’t feel like it, but I went for a swim yesterday morning. And I am so glad I did! I had forgotten my hair bobble but found a swim cap in my bag which looks rather unattractive on, but made me feel quite like the professional swimmer. It was the perfect start to the day.
Communicate my needs
I think this is one of the most important self-care skills. Even though Edd and I have been married 7 years this month (!) there are still moments where I hope he might just become a mind-reader and guess what I want in that moment. But more and more I am learning to communicate how I feel and ask for help and support. In my marriage but also in other relationships. It is vulnerable and scary, but so healthy.
Set boundaries
Part of communicating one’s needs sometimes involves setting a loving boundary. For me this often means, protecting time for just me, or just me and Edd. I find it hard to say no when friends ask me to hang out, but I am much better company when I have a good balance of me-time and social-time.
Think about future-me (especially morning-me)
For me, there is nothing worse than wake up to a messy house. Especially a messy kitchen. So, each evening I spend 10 minutes, tidying away toys, wiping down counters, preparing the coffee maker and putting on the dishwasher. I am normally tired and don’t want to do it. But morning-me is always very happy to walk into a clean kitchen at the start of the day.
Make room for connection
This week, a good friend is visiting me with her daughter. We have known each other since childhood but in the last seven years we have seen each other maybe three times. However, it has felt like no time had passed. We laughed and opened up about things that are painful and it has been so good for my soul. Plus, seeing our girls play together has been the sweetest.
Hobbies
If you have been reading my blog any length of time you know that I am very serious about my hobbies. I try to have at least a few minutes each day to either knit or read. Ideally both!
Take time to talk to Jesus
I pray a lot throughout the day (and night). I ask for help and patience in difficult moments, I beg that SJ will fall asleep again, I thank God for the sunshine and for spring and for my kid and my husband and parents and friends. Doing that helps me so much to get through the day and to be joyful. However, there is a different quality to my conversations with Jesus when I don’t just chat to him “on the go”. Sitting down for some minutes and solely focusing on him is the best self-care for my soul. Often, I write out what I want to say to him. Or, I just sit, look out the window and am aware of his closeness.
What does your self-care look like?
This was not an exhausitve list. Also, this post was not meant as a “how to self-care”. Maybe you were inspired or some things sparked ideas. However, we are all different. There are different seasons where different things do us good.
This is your encouraging reminder that you are important. You are allowed to take yourself and your needs seriously and to be gentle with yourself.
This is Day 51 of my 100 Day Project. You can learn more about my 100 day project by reading this post. If you want to do your own 100 day Project, I would recommend checking out the 100 Day Project website.
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