Self-care? Ugh!
So I realise now, at the end of the summer holidays, that when I used to say to people that you really need to make time for yourself, when they were in need of some self-love, that I was talking a load of patronising BS.
Sometimes, with young children or family commitments or limited/non-existent support system in place, it’s nigh-on impossible to go to the loo alone never mind find some time for “self-care”.
And “self-care” what does that even mean? The next sentence seems to invariably be, it’s not bubble baths and getting your nails done. Well actually it might be. For me, “self-love” as I prefer to call it, is a sliding scale. Some days it might be treating myself to a takeout, proper coffee rather than making myself one at home (using my coffee machine which I insisted would be an investment and actually save me money!), other days it might be having the time to make the perfect coffee at home, without interruption, grinding the beans, heating and frothing the milk, adding syrup and actually drinking it hot!
For me there are basics. I know that when I wear clean (avoiding the toddler’s grubby hands!), well-fitting clothes that I love, I feel good. When I’m happy with my haircut (even more basic, when I’ve had a shower and washed my hair!). When I eat well, and by that I mean food that I love and loves me, that’s not just convenient.
All these things though, are easy to say and maybe not so easy to do. What do you do in the name of self-love? What are your basics?
I read a social media post recently by Dr Chatterjee about “Happiness Habits”. I like what he says but sometimes he really hits on something that speaks to me. He talks about those simple things that we do that we know will make us happy, you know, things like going for a walk, meeting a friend for coffee, cooking ourselves a really great meal. Dr C then suggests writing them down, sticking them somewhere we’ll seeing them daily and fitting them into our week.
What do you think? Can you easily think of three things, and would you fit them into your week? I’d love to hear from you.
