We can roll our eyes about what a luxury self-care could be… but what if we view it from the lens of taking care of ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. It’s making sure we are well-resourced and nourished. Suddenly, that sounds more normal. But it’s often not what we do—especially if you are in any type of care giver role. Whether you are a parent, health care provider, or have a relative who needs recurrent care; self-care often takes a back seat when other demands seem to be more important.
In 1998, the WHO defined: “Self-Care is what people do for themselves to establish and maintain health, and to prevent and deal with illness.”
It’s a reasonable starting question: what are you doing to establish and maintain health? (Let alone prevent and deal with illness.)
What if we just started with the physical: Am I getting adequate sleep? Hydration? Nutrition? Exercise? Have I had my regular screening exams and/or managing any chronic health issues?
I’ve been inconsistent over the years; sometimes, I’m great at making exercise a priority. Sometimes… not so much. In residency, my hydration, nutrition, and sleep were garbage… I still struggle with sleep the most, but small steps have made a huge difference. The first step was recognizing it was important and mattered.
Some of these are just habits to stop/ start/ continue… but some require taking on the belief that it matters. And asking: is it “worth it”?
Let me be a voice in your ear: It is. You are WORTH it. You matter.
But you have to prioritize YOU… in the chaos, juggling a million balls. You matter and so does your self-care.
