In My Self-Care Era

Let’s be real – it’s been a year. Current event chaos, political turmoil, massive career shifts and a lot of change. Even when change is positive, it can be stressful, and I found most of this year relatively exhausting. So I decided to lean into a Summer of Self-Care and prioritize a refresh and reset for myself.

As parents, friends, or employees – most of us are very good at taking care of other people. We work hard for our businesses or companies, we selflessly give ourselves to the needs and demands of our children and families, we find a way to drop everything when a friend needs us. We do this all automatically, without much thought, and easily prioritize the significant others in our lives and their needs.

But many of us also find it very difficult to do this for ourselves. While we think nothing of making sacrifices for others, carving out time for ourselves seems to come at a premium we often feel that we can’t afford.

Taking time and space for ourselves is not only okay – it is an important part of fostering our own health and wellness. Prioritizing yourself, at times, helps us feel good and become the best version of ourselves (and yes, have the energy to continue to take care of the others in our lives too!).

My self-care strategy this summer has been to take a few select days for myself or for my relationships. I spent an entire day sitting on the beach with a close friend – we brought a picnic and just spent hours chatting, catching up, and relaxing together. I planned a spa day for myself and a friend – we spent 11 hours soaking & steaming (see: the Korean Body Scrub that changed my life) and followed this with a lovely waterfront dinner. This weekend my husband and I are leaving the kids with my mom to spend two days away together (think pool time, decadent dinners, and a comedy show).

Self-care is not easy – like many of the things we talk about in terms of change and growth – it takes time, intention, patience and practice. In the busy, over-scheduled, and over-stimulating world that we live in, there will never be time for ourselves unless we force ourselves to make it. Self-care should be routinely considered and prioritized into our never-ending list of tasks and demands.

While finding the time and money to take care of yourself may not always be easy, investing in yourself and your wellness is never a bad idea. In fact, the more we prioritize our own needs, the better we feel – not only for ourselves, but for the world around us. Time off often makes us more effective and more efficient in our work because we come back rejuvenated and more motivated. Taking time does not need to mean planning a long or expensive vacation – even a day, or an afternoon, away from your usual activities can do a world of good.

Life hack: take a sick day… when you aren’t sick. Spend the day resting, relaxing, or doing something that makes you feel good (e.g. a long walk through nature? a nap on the beach? a lovely solo meal?). These “mental health days” have known benefits for well-being but also enhance performance when we return to the tasks at hand.

Our Prescription For You:

Feeling exhausted? Take a break. Feeling burned out from work or school? Take a day off or “play hooky.” Feeling lonely or isolated? Schedule time with family or friends. Feeling like everyone else matters but you? Do something for yourself – guilt free. Every problem has a solution and every negative feeling brings an opportunity to counter it.

Here’s to hoping you find your own self-care era – you need it, and you deserve it, too!

Joy in the Journey,

J&J