Throughout the years I’ve realised that care for myself is not a luxury but a necessity. Life swayed in a million directions and called for my time and attention at all times. I’d always viewed self-care as an afterthought, something I took when I could, the occasional spa day or soak in the tub. But self-care really is so much more than that, and what it does to our long term health is profound and life-altering.
Previously, self-care was a moment squeezed in between various obligations. I used to prioritize my time, work, and then whatever remained. However, like many others, I started experiencing burnout. It was only when I deliberately started practicing self-care that I observed a significant change not just in how I treated myself but also in all aspects of my life. Engaging in self-care allowed me to nurture every aspect of my well-being.
Spiritually, self-care has taught me the value of carving out time to be with something greater than myself. I think we are all deeply connected with the external world, and when I am able to sit in quiet contemplation, meditation, or simply be in the wilderness, it’s like I’m at a frequency that calls me back home. And it’s in these places of silence and resonance that I am most at home, most centred. If I turn my back on that spiritual element, then life is a little less orderly. When I schedule my spiritual self-care, it makes me feel grounded and on the right path despite the chaos around me. It has helped me feel better about living life and its bumps and bruises, and knowing everything’s not so bad in a big way.
For me, self-care is about having the space for rest, which I don’t always do. The world is meant to keep us continuously challenged. Our brains are packed with information, projects, and distractions that lead to burnout pretty fast. I was once one who thought cognitive fatigue was normal, busyness was a virtue. But mental health is a lifetime investment, and I get the bill when I don’t give it room. Taking the time to meditate, taking time out from the phone, to sink into a book or some art work, they’re ways that I clear my head and push out the mental clutter. Psychic self-care lets me think more clearly, focus, and remain more present in the moment. And ultimately, that’s what stops me from getting a little enslaved and stressed out. It has helped me be sharper, tougher, and ultimately more content.
With regards to emotional self-care, it changed the way I deal with my feelings for me. Life has brought its share of disappointments to me and there have been times when it all seemed so much. In the past I used to shut myself up and believe that all you could do was fight it. But with self-care, I’ve discovered that taking the time to sit with my feelings, to let them in, and heal through them, is among the most effective things I can do for myself. Whether journaling, communicating with a trusted person or simply giving myself permission to be away, emotional self-care made me resilient. It has taught me that it’s ok not to be all the time, and that what really matters is acknowledging my feelings. Making room for emotions has allowed me to sail through those moments with a little more ease, and to show myself the same kind of care I easily provide others.
At last, physical self-care - which typically gets the most credit - is just a whole other category now. We might think of physical self-care in terms of going to the gym or eating well, but it’s so much more. Physical self-care is for me now about embracing my body and the reality that it guides me in life. ‘Listening to what I need from my body - to move, to sleep, to feed. I’ve come to understand the power of little actions. A solid night’s rest, a well-rested meal, an hour out in the sunshine - all that stuff matters. When I am mindful about my body, I’ve discovered in my practice of physical self-care, my body is aware of it. I’m more focused, more engaged, more energised with the world. And gradually, I’ve come to see that taking better care of myself physically now is what will allow me to lead a more active life into the future.
What I have realised from this journey is that they’re all connected - spiritual, psychological, emotional, physical. When I water one, all the others follow. It’s the inside of me like an ecosystem, each hunk of which thrives when it’s taken care of. And I’ve learned to include self-care in my daily life but it’s not about perfection. No one gets off a mental checklist when it comes to self-care. It’s really just asking yourself what you need at the moment and taking it. It might be a morning meditation, some days an hour of sleep extra, and other days just giving yourself permission to do nothing.
The more I take care of myself, the more everything else in my life starts to fall into place. I am closer to myself, more connected with others, and more fulfilled. This is something that I have learned is never a question because I see how self-care helps me shine as my best self. And it’s not about thriving right now - it’s about preparing myself for longevity and happiness. The fact of the matter is, if we nourish ourselves spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically, then we have the basis to endure whatever life may throw at us.
If there is anything I have ever learned, self-care is a way to invest in yourself that pays dividends long past this very moment. It’s creating the life you want, the life where you are whole, healthy and content. So if you’ve been leaving yourself on the back burner, or feeling like you just don’t have time for yourself, I would encourage you to get small. Just breathe in, see what your body and heart want, and allow yourself to give it a shot. It’s one of the best gifts you can give yourself and, in the long run, it’s what’ll make you prosper - spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically. You deserve it. 💖
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