SELF-CARE : A BLANKET OF COMFORT AND COMPASSION | MindsetOpediaDMHC Blogs

You probably would have heard the term “self-care” floating around the internet, yet how many times have you actually incorporated it into your life?

Life gets in the way most of the time, and we find ourselves leaving self-care only for the weekends. We know why self-care is important for our well-being, yet we fail to practice it regularly. The practice of self-care is more of a reactive mechanism for the most of us, rather than a proactive one. We decide to take a break when things are not going well for us, or when we’re feeling emotionally overwhelmed. We resort to eating our favourite foods, watching a movie or taking a break from work. Yet why is it that we choose to practice self-care only when we’re feeling out of sorts? When we choose to practice self-care proactively instead, it acts like a daily vitamin dose. We may not see the immediate benefits that we get out of it, but it is important to sustain and empower ourselves in the future. Just like scheduling is management of our time, self-care is synonymous to optimization of our well-being.

We all may have different ways of practicing self-care, but the core idea is to check in with yourself. Self-care is not selfish. It is a reminder for both your brain and your body that you cherish them deeply. It is like a warm blanket of comfort and compassion that will be there for you whenever you need it. A self-care activity could be anything that adds to your physical, emotional or spiritual growth. Take a mental note of the activities that you love to do, and what categorizes as the best form of self-care in your opinion. What are the things that make you smile, or make you relax and rejuvenate?

We are constantly giving away our time and energy to external sources, be it our work or our relationships, but try and leave some space for yourself. Learn to prioritize yourself sometimes. If there’s anything in this article that struck a chord with you, take a step ahead towards your well-being and try to schedule 15-30 minutes of self-care today in your calendar. Notice how it feels to step back and carve out time for yourself. Try it out for a day and then maybe extend it to a week. The key is to start small and stay realistic, so that you can make self-care a sustainable part of your routine in the future.

As Zeno the Greek philosopher said, “Well-being is realized by small steps but is truly no small thing.”

By,

Sanskriti Kapoor

Council Member

Wicci - DMHC