Self-care is the practice of intentionally looking after your own physical, mental, and emotional health to maintain or improve your well-being. It’s about recognizing what you need to feel balanced and taking action to make it happen—whether that’s resting when you’re tired, eating something nourishing, or stepping away from stress to clear your mind. It’s not a one-size-fits-all thing; it’s personal and can shift depending on what’s going on in your life. At its core, it’s about treating yourself with the same kindness and attention you’d offer someone you care about, ensuring you’ve got the energy and resilience to handle whatever comes your way. What does it look like for you?
Self-care is all about taking intentional steps to look after your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It’s not just a buzzword—it’s a way to recharge, stay balanced, and handle life’s ups and downs. Think of it as tuning up your own engine so you can keep running smoothly.
Top Tips for Self-Care
- Prioritize Sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours a night. It’s not just about quantity—consistency matters too. A regular sleep schedule can do wonders for your mood and energy.
- Move Your Body: Find something you enjoy, whether it’s a brisk walk, yoga, or dancing in your kitchen. Even 20-30 minutes a day can boost endorphins and clear your head.
- Eat with Intention: Fuel yourself with a mix of whole foods—veggies, fruits, lean proteins, and healthy fats. It’s less about perfection and more about feeling good in your skin.
- Set Boundaries: Learn to say “no” when you need to. Protecting your time and energy isn’t selfish; it’s essential.
- Unplug Regularly: Step away from screens. A digital detox, even for an hour, can help you reconnect with yourself or the people around you.
- Practice Mindfulness: Try a few minutes of deep breathing, meditation, or just savoring your coffee without distractions. It’s about being present.
- Do What Sparks Joy: Carve out time for hobbies or things that light you up—reading, painting, gardening, whatever it is.
Don’t Dos
- Don’t Overdo It: Pushing yourself to exhaustion isn’t self-care—it’s the opposite. Rest isn’t lazy; it’s productive.
- Don’t Compare: Your self-care isn’t someone else’s. Skip the Instagram trap of thinking it has to look a certain way.
- Don’t Skip the Basics: Hydrating, eating, and sleeping aren’t optional. Neglecting them undermines everything else.
- Don’t Guilt-Trip Yourself: If you miss a day or can’t do it all, let it go. Self-care isn’t a chore or a checklist to beat yourself up over.
- Don’t Isolate Too Much: While alone time is great, completely cutting off connection can backfire. Balance solitude with meaningful interactions.
The key is to listen to what you need, not what the world says you should do. It’s personal, flexible, and evolves with you. What’s one thing you’d try today?
[OBSERVATION: Near the end when I am recapping, I say it’s “Day 57 of MLX.” Just straight up the wrong number, but with no knowledge I did it (often, when I flub something, I know, mostly I’ll correct realtime, or if I can discern that it’s immaterial, I might keep rolling, but here, I had NO IDEA I’d done that.]