What Is Self Care, And Why Does It Matter So Much?
Self-care is a term that is often thrown about. But what does self-care actually mean, and why is it so important for everyone to make time for it?
Here at The Wellness Nest, we believe that self-care is an essential step towards wellbeing. But for you to prioritise self-care, you need to understand what self-care (and what it isn’t!)
What is self-care?
There are many definitions for self-care, depending on who you ask. But here at The Wellness Nest, we like to define it as ‘a practice or decision that you consciously make that contributes to your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing'.
As you can see, it’s a general definition! But there’s a good reason for that. Self-care is in the eye of the beholder. Whatever recharges you and makes you feel better in the long-run can be considered self-care.
What is self-care NOT?
Now that you know what self-care is, it’s important to know what it is not.
Self-care is not:
Selfish or self-indulgent - it can actually be selfless! Taking care of yourself can allow you to be a better person - a better friend, employee, boss, parent and/or child.
A waste of time - in fact, by committing to regular self-care, you can become more productive in your everyday life.
One-size-fits-all - what recharges one person is a drain to someone else. It is a very personal practice.
A once-off practice - you can’t expect to go to one retreat or get one myotherapy appointment and be set for the next year!
About escaping your life - as fun as it can be to watch Netflix when you’re drained or stressed, it’s not self-care. Self-care is something that will add to your overall health.
Doing things that you hate because they are ‘good for you’ - self-care should not be something that makes you miserable! If you don’t feel better after doing something, it’s not self-care for you.
Why is self-care so important?
Now you have some idea of what self-care incorporates. But why is it so important?
Put simply, self-care is a practice that protects all aspects of your wellbeing.
Unfortunately, many people have let self-care slide. Longer work hours, 24-7 technology, social media and screentime have all led to the average person spending very little time on self-care.
This is particularly true for women. Because we spend so much time taking care of people around us, it’s easy to let our own care slip. Mums, girlfriends, wives and women in business give so much and have nothing left to give back to themselves!
But it’s time to flip this trend around. Before you help by putting someone else’s oxygen mask on, you need to put your own on first. You need oxygen in order to help someone else with theirs!
You are your best self when you are rested, recharged and nourished. When you are your best self, you can be the best you for everyone else who needs your support or care.
Simple steps to incorporate more self-care into your life
Looking to incorporate more self-care into your everyday life? Here are some tips to get you started.
Start with baby steps and small chunks of time. 10 minutes of self-care every day or 30 minutes every weekend is better than none at all!
Figure out what self-care means to you. If kale smoothies make you gag, don’t drink them! If yoga bores you, try a different form of movement instead. There is always a way to practice self-care that feels good for you.
Schedule self-care in advance. It’s easier to commit to self-care if you put it into your calendar well in advance.
Is myotherapy part of your self-care plans? Great news - you can book in your 2020 appointments in advance. Head to our booking page here to lock in your body self-care dates.