My Thoughts on Self Care

Self-care is something that we often overlook.

When we have a good relationship with ourselves, we are able to easily navigate through the day.

Our moods are improved and we rarely get affected by simple problems that otherwise have ruined our day.

A lot of people do understand what self-care is, but they’re rarely able to pinpoint the specific ways on how they can take care of themselves. 

Self-care needs to be something that you enjoy.

It is an activity that doesn’t take a lot of mind-power because it’s your mind and body’s way of resting.

We all have different opinions about self-care.

And the one thing we need to understand is that how one takes care of themselves is not the same as others.

If some people take care of themselves by eating chocolates, by all means, let them.

If you see someone spending the whole day reading a book or devouring collection of random facts to keep them occupied, then let them be.

In different countries, there are many definitions of self-care.

In Switzerland, a trip to nature. In Taiwan, it’s sleep. In Italy, it’s all about long social dinners. In Pakistan, it’s as relaxing as a coconut scalp massage. In England, self-care is synonymous with a cup of tea.

In the same way, we all have different sets of priorities.

Some things may be important for me, while the same thing may be trivial to you.

And if you think about it, no situations are alike.

Why should you compare an adult’s struggles to someone in their adolescent years? They are totally different people with totally different problems.

I remember someone at work, who questioned why I went to the gym even though I had a very heavy workload for a week.

“I thought she was busy, how can she manage to waste time at the gym?”

Outside, I was rock solid apathetic on the comment. But deep inside, I was blaming myself for reasons I couldn’t even put my finger on.

I began questioning my self-worth and skill.

I was on the verge of believing that I just have a lack of responsibility and cannot be helped.

Good thing that I always had a strong opinion on self-care.

Not long after I heard the comment, I immediately told myself that it’s okay.

I need to pat myself in the back for taking good care of myself and prioritizing my sanity over anything, especially work.

And you should, too.

If you ask me, ‘I just don’t feel like going to work, do you think I shouldn’t come?’

It wouldn’t take me a second to reply, “why, not?” I wouldn’t even ask why.

And it’s not that I’m encouraging laziness or negligence.

What I’m encouraging is allowing yourself to take a break, allowing yourself to rest.

But if work is your priority, I’m not in the position to question that.

That’s your kind of self-care. That’s your life.

And when someone asks you why like you have to justify yourself, just tell them to shove it off. Or say, “just because.”

Let them wonder how you’re able to be so careless about “important things.”

Time away is self-care

Permission to not be helpful is self-care.

Something unproductive is self-care

Connecting to art and nature is self-care

A break from responsibility is self-care.

Pampering yourself is self-care.

Eating to your heart’s content is self-care.

Not talking to people is self-care.

Talking to strangers to keep you occupied is self-care.

Whoever tells you that it’s not is wrong. 

The world is hard to navigate enough that it’s not helpful to be working against yourself.

Don’t be hard on yourself.

Just because is a good reason enough for doing things or not doing things.

So learn to say no.

Or learn to say yes to things that you really enjoy.

That’s what taking care of yourself really means.