Self-Care Is More Than A “Mani /Pedi”

Often, I am asked to address the subject of Self Care…

If you would have asked me several years ago to define Self-Care, I would have thought back to the last time I had a manicure and pedicure.  Don’t Laugh, that was reality! Manicures and pedicures are great, but there is so much more to taking caring of ourselves.

Let’s face it… life is busy and taking responsibility for family, home, and work can be overwhelming at times.  Who has time for Self-Care? The reality is, if we do not take time to fill ourselves with needed care, our emptiness will always produce a life that is hurried, frustrating, tiring, overwhelming, resentful, and will leave us feeling as though we are always coming up short.

So, what is Self-Care? And how do we begin doing a better job of this?

The simple answer is asking ourselves often (daily or several times a day) “What do I need at this very moment”?  In order to be fueled and filled, we must consider our needs in all areas of our humanness. Some examples look like this:

Physical needs: I am hungry, I need healthy food.  I need to take a walk and breathe in fresh air.  I need sleep.  I need to sit and simply rest. I need to lose some weight. I need to play. I need to make time for daily exercise.

Emotional needs: I need to talk kinder to myself.  I need to be with others who love and accept me. I need new friends who are supportive. I need to reach out to someone else in need. I need a Golden Retriever kiss (that’s mine today)!

Spiritual needs:  I need to sit and reflect upon the good things in my life. I need to say “no” to some things so that I can say “yes” to what really matters. I need to make some positive and necessary changes in my life.  I need to give thanks to God for all that I do have. I need to ask God and others for help.

Self-Care allows us to show up daily and be the best person we were created to be.  When applied, Self-Care allows us to thrive and experience the goodness in life!

What do you need at this very moment?

Your life matters!

Peace and Gratitude,

Tammy