Self Care - Common Misconceptions and How To Build Your Personal Routine
As the end of the year approaches, it’s common to be experiencing added stress, burnout, exhaustion, or all of the above! It is challenging to deal with these feelings alone, and being given vague advice can be the last thing you want to hear. For example, “taking time for self’care”. What is “self-care”, what does that mean? When you’re already overwhelmed, being told to take care of yourself can feel like another task on the never-ending to-do list ahead of you. Not to mention, the vague implications of that phrase, what does self-care entail? Let’s start by breaking down the requirements and misconceptions of self-care:
Includes:
Active care
Increases knowledge or literacy
Physical activity
Healthy eating
Personal growth!
Misconceptions:
Has to be “peaceful”
Has to be organized
Has to be the same as everyone else
Has to be done alone
So where to go from here, how do you build your own self-care routine?. As much as binging your favourite show or doom scrolling online can feel like you’re relaxing, it can actually work against the focus of self-care and lead to feelings of grogginess, guilt, or contribute to low mood. Rather, choosing activities like reading, going for a walk, cooking, completing puzzles, or socializing can contribute to the mental and physical benefits of self-care. The biggest thing to remember is that self-care is all about you! If you love the act of journaling, going for a 5-minute walk while listening to music, or lighting candles and taking a bath, then that is perfect! But if you have found that the classic forms of self-care feel like extra work for you or are just not aligned with your personality, then by all means, don’t force yourself to do what doesn’t feel right! Self-care can look like scream singing to your favourite songs, reading that guilty pleasure book, dancing in the kitchen while you make a snack, or any other activity that lets you focus on yourself for just a few minutes.
Reflecting on what makes acts of self-care difficult can be a starting point of understanding yourself, your values, and what form of self-care can apply best in your life. Exploring different activities or signing up for groups or clubs that provide a community and support can help you discover what fits best with your lifestyle and truly provides a sense of care for you. Burnout is real and present in so many lives, especially during busy seasons at work or school, and even just planning around the holidays. Self-care is the same as any skill, requiring some practice and commitment so that those habits stay strong even when times become difficult. It may not always be easy and as glamorous as it can be perceived as, and when those challenges come up, we are here to help. You don’t have to wait for things to get serious before seeking support and building skills together.
