by Katy BriggsSelf-care isn’t always face masks and bubble baths (it definitely can be, though). Sometimes you need a reminder to take care of yourself. When the seasonal depression hits or you’re in a slump, small things like going to the grocery store or taking a bath can be a tough sell to a brain that doesn’t want to get out of bed. This is where post-it notes and planners come in (I know, I know, my Virgo is showing). Getting out of bed when your alarm goes off is often the absolute hardest part of the day. So don’t give yourself time to think about going back to sleep. Leave yourself a little motivational quote or a note to yourself right on top of your phone or whatever the first thing is that you grab when you wake up. Let yourself feel that little pick-me-up and jump right out of bed. Here’s the part where I’ll recommend stretching or yoga or 10 quick jumping jacks to get some endorphins moving but I know that’s easier said than done. Right away, put on the outfit that you laid out the night before that makes you feel beautiful and confident (there’s that past self looking out for future self again). No getting back in bed now! Throughout the week, make sure to give yourself little reminders to do the things that will make you feel like an actual human being. If you use a planner, write down things that might seem like a given but are hard to make yourself do sometimes (plus it is SO satisfying to cross things off a list). I got my planner from Bando! They have lots of super cute options to help you stay organized. Then give yourself a reward afterward! Showered more than once a week? Awesome, eat a piece of chocolate. Recognized the feeling of hunger and ate something? Amazing, buy yourself something pretty. And, hey, if what you really, really need is to just stay in bed and not think about work or doing anything at all, by all means, do it! These are just tips for when you are feeling really low and can’t seem to make yourself do things you usually do.
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by katy briggs, & nadia KhansaKaty's take on self care: |
Reading through Katy’s brilliant take on what self care is, I think it’s great that we’re offering multiple perspectives because my regime is the total opposite! In general, because of my anxiety and just who I am as a person, I always have my future self at the front of my mind. I’m always the person with their day planned, week planned, month planned, I have a rough plan for how I want each month of the year to go, a 2 year plan, a 5 year plan, a rough idea of where I want to be in 10 years, and where I want to be when I’m 40. I plan all three of my meals for the next day every night before I go to bed, I plan my outfit if its cold, my outfit if its warm, and a cute and comfy version of each (because I’m also hella indecisive and if I leave these decisions until morning, it will take me like an hour). | image: me not taking care of myself and overworking!! Spoiler alert i got home at like 9:30pm and cried |
If I start thinking about what my future self needs, I work towards those goals and needs until I am literally so tired I have a panic attack and cannot stop crying from the fatigue of the overwhelming feeling of never being done planning. It can be daunting, especially since so much of it is this cognitive mental health piece that no amount of therapy seems to ease. So, my self care usually ends up being something that can stop me in my tracks and force me to look at what I need in that moment (which is usually, to relax).
i am being cute and happy and curling my hair like a good lil self-care guru~ | Because of this, a lot of my self care ends up being the kinda stereotypical things--baths, face masks, candles, hiking, arts, throwing my phone into a dark cavern and ignoring it until the morning, tying myself to the couch and watching TV, you know, all things that literally force you to commit to being in one place at one time and taking in the moment. I guess the technical term for my self care is “mindfulness”--which you can read more about later in this series! Often times, my self care is trusting that I have done enough for my future self, and when I get to that time, I will be fine. But only if I take care of myself right now. |
Long story short, self care can mean a lot of different things to different people, its not really about trying to fit the stereotypes of what "self-care" is, but rather, to toy around with several different mechanisms and see what works for you! How do YOU self care? Let us know in the comment section!