Is self-care important?

First, what is self-care? 

It’s a bit of a buzzword these days, which dilutes the importance of the concept behind it. 

Arguably, self-care is anything that supports being the healthiest and happiest version of ourselves. 

Depending on interests and needs, self-care could look like: 

These are all activities that restore us and encourage personal growth. It’s likely you’re already incorporating self-care into your life, just calling it by a different name. 

It’s human nature to strive for more and better. As a species, we’ve always been philosophers and scientists attempting to understand the universe, how we fit into it, and how to be the best version of ourselves amidst it all. 

It’s up to you to decide how you want to take care of yourself… however, with any of these options, one thing is necessary: time. 

We are encouraged to fill every moment of our days with productivity or distractions in our modern times. Our lives are busy! It’s easy to push taking care of ourselves to the bottom of our to-do lists when other priorities are vying for our attention. 

First, identify what helps you feel better and operate as your best self. Notice, this isn’t a call to identify what brings you immediate gratification. Focus on what positively impacts your mental and physical health beyond the moment. 

For me, daily stretching and an afternoon walk to my favorite coffee shop with a friend or my partner encourage balance in my life and are habits that benefit my overall being. 

Next, realistically identify the time you can dedicate to your self-care practice. 

It doesn’t need to be a significant amount of time. Start with ten minutes a day. 

For example, I spend 5-10 minutes stretching in the morning, and 10-15 minutes stretching before bed.

Consider your current routine and identify areas where you can incorporate self-care. Plan ahead! Intentionality leads to sustainability. 

If you’re a part of a family unit, speak with your partner about creating time and space for each of you to benefit from self-care. When folks feel healthy and happy, life’s challenges become a bit easier to navigate.

How do you practice self-care? 

If you’re seeking an opportunity to decompress, rejuvenate and build habits that you can incorporate into daily life, check out Harvest Retreats.