Self-care and Mindfulness
Updated: May 6, 2022
Hello, beautiful soul!
When we think of self-care some of us think of things we would like to do, but feel we don't really have time for or feel guilty making time for. We often have the misconception that self-care is selfish, time consuming or a one time indulgence. Sometimes, when we've had a "self-care" moment we don't feel relaxed and rejuvenated. Simply put, our idea of self-care can be stressful and draining.
So, what is self-care? Self-care is simply taking care of yourself. That could be food choices, sleep, exercise, or going to health care appointments. It could be taking the time to do something you enjoy. Self-care can also be practicing mindfulness throughout the day.
What is mindfulness? According to the dictionary, mindfulness is a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging feelings, thoughts and sensations. Mindfulness is being present in the moment.
As a stay-at-home, homeschool mom self-care seemed completely out of reach because of my misconception. This lead to frustration and even bitterness. When I realized I needed to start small and start with mindfulness I started experiencing more relaxing moments. For example, when I'm washing my hair I take the time to massage my scalp while saying out loud, "I appreciate you". It's simple and may seem silly, but it's helped me. It's a moment of mindfulness and added some relaxation to a basic act of self-care.
When we are in a state of perpetual stress and feeling overwhelmed or we feel like we are just too busy the idea of self-care can add to the stress. It can be counter productive. I believe if we start with very simple self-care/mindfulness practices it will help our minds and bodies relax. We will be able to think more clearly and make better choices for ourselves.
What is self-care to you?
In what way could you simplify self-care?
In what way could you incorporate mindfulness?
