Self-Care Is More Than Just Getting a Massage- Read for Some Tips!
Self-care has received a lot of attention over the last several years and yet when I ask people if they have been taking care of themselves, the answer I often get is something like, “I mean I got a massage last week.” And sometimes that is the answer at best. Learning to take care of yourself is much more about cultivating and practice of self reflection rather than a list of things you can do to pamper yourself – and of course we recommend pampering yourself whenever possible too. ;)
We want to acknowledge that self-care can also be hindered by our relationships, community and larger systems in our society that either burden our time or resources to the point that taking time to care for yourself may actually be impossible. If you are in this situation, we are so sorry for all of the burden you are carrying. You deserve to be in relationships and communities that support your wellbeing rather than deplete it.
For the aspects of self-care that we can influence, here are some key questions to learn to ask yourself: “What do I need today?” or even “What do I need right now?” We know that in general we thrive at our best when we are getting enough sleep, hydrating and nourishing our bodies throughout the day, getting in joyful movement, being in the sun/nature, and spending time with people that we feel loved by. If we boil down self-care practices, it would be to prioritize the above mentioned. And if we are honest, many times one or all of these categories is lacking significantly.
Getting a massage can be an excellent way to care for yourself and it can also be a half-hearted solution to actually attuning to your body’s needs on a daily basis and giving yourself what you need in order to thrive. Many times people try to save their “self-care” for their annual vacations but unfortunately we just don’t function at our best that way. Being able to cultivate a practice of regular self reflection and building a list of things that are relaxing, meaningful and connecting is a much more robust approach.
While the nap or massage can be very helpful, that is not going to replace a lifestyle that regularly reflects on your body’s needs and has permission to give it that thing. Too often we are overbooked, too busy, and undernourished and are upset when our body collapses, our anxiety goes up, or we develop an illness. We live in a culture that praises business and that just might be the hardest thing to push back against as you begin to develop this practice.
Take a moment even right now to tune into your body and ask yourself, “What do I need right now?” Maybe you need to get up and stretch, maybe you need to call a friend, or maybe you need to cancel your plans for the weekend and rest because you are feeling depleted. Self-care is never about one thing. It is about learning to tune into your body and be willing to give it what it needs now.
Wishing you love and peace as you work to cultivate your self-care practices.
