 |
| Lovely Vase and Cup of Tea by Jamie Paterno |
By Mary Claire Schibelka
What do you think of
when you hear “self-care”? Painting your nails? Getting a massage? Journaling? For
a long time, I rolled my eyes at the thought of doing these things. “I’m way
too busy for self-care,” I thought. Regardless of how many people told me about
the importance of self-care, I never looked at it as a necessity. Instead, I
actually believed that doing things to take care of myself would only take up more
time in my schedule, hence making me even more stressed out.
Ironically, it wasn’t until several months into my
internship at The Awakening Center—when my schedule became busier than it ever
has been—that I discovered the power and importance of self-care. Part of this
came from taking an honest look at myself and realizing that my current
self-care plan (or lack thereof…) wasn’t working. The other part came from
reassessing what self-care actually meant to me and questioning whether or not
that definition was flexible. What I learned is that self-care doesn’t always
have to mean going to a spa or taking a luxury vacation or doing a
Pinterest-worthy art project. Those things are great, but when life gets busy,
they aren’t always practical. Sometimes, self-care is more about looking ahead,
asking yourself what you really need, and then setting yourself up for success.
Planning. One of the most
important self-care strategies I have discovered is planning ahead. Using a
planner allows you to take what seems like an overwhelming list of things to do
and organize it into shorter lists of what you need to tackle on a day-by-day
basis. When you take on a busy week one day at a time, it suddenly seems much
more manageable. Plus, planners can be great outlets for creative energy if
you’re an artistic type. Check out Target, Amazon, and even discount stores
like TJ Maxx for cute stickers, markers, and other supplies.
Routines. Not a morning person? Don’t
worry, you’re not alone. It’s easy to opt for sleeping in and then rushing out
the door in the morning. However, I think most would agree that this usually
just ends up making us more tired. A morning routine, on the other hand, sets
the tone for a positive and productive day. Your morning routine can start off
small, with only one item on the list, like making the bed. By completing just
that one task, you’re starting off your morning with a feeling of
accomplishment, and this can be very energizing. The same is true for nighttime
routines. Just like morning routines help us feel more awake, nighttime
routines tell our bodies that it’s time to wind down. This leads to a more restful
sleep, and again, a more energetic morning!
Sleep. Since we’re on the
topic of sleep anyways, now would be a good time to talk about the importance
of it. Sleep is so beneficial to our bodies. It’s restorative, it’s relaxing,
and—in all honesty—it’s often a much-needed break from the business of our
days. I’ve learned that sleep works best when it’s structured. Our bodies love
rhythm. When we stick to a consistent bedtime and wake-up time, our bodies
start to naturally fall into the pattern, and we can then reap the benefits,
such as more energy and a better mood, throughout the day. Of course, there are
circumstances in which we might need more or less sleep, like when we’re sick
or during finals week. Remember to listen to your body and give yourself some
grace when this one gets difficult.
Preparing. Remember when we talked
about planning? This is where it really starts to come in handy. When you have
a layout of what your week is going to look like, it’s much easier to figure
out what you need to do and when you have time to do it. For example, if you
have class at 8am on Tuesdays, and you know you’re not a morning person, it
might be helpful to do tasks like showering or putting supplies in your
backpack the night before. Also, if it’s difficult or exhausting for you to cook
throughout the week, advance meal-prepping can be a great skill. If you have a
dietitian, talk to him or her about how to prepare balanced, easily stored
meals that fit your meal plan.
Schedule in fun. In the past, whenever I’ve
gotten exceptionally busy, the fun activities on my to-do list were always the
first to go. I believed that I could do those things only when I completed all
of the other requirements. The problem with that philosophy is that when you
cut out time for fun, the quality of all your other work suffers. You’re more
likely to feel drained, distracted, and resentful of everything else you have
to do, so you don’t do it as well. However, if you intentionally schedule in
things like hanging out with friends, watching your favorite TV show, doing
yoga, or whatever else it is you love, you approach your other obligations with
more energy and passion. Next time you find yourself feeling guilty for taking
time out of your busy schedule for fun, think of it as an investment, and then
notice how it impacts the rest of your tasks for the week.
Beginning a self-care plan can seem like a daunting task.
It requires intention and dedication, and at times you may wonder if it is
worth it. But take it from a former skeptic like me: When you invest in
yourself, it becomes much easier (and more fun) to put forth energy into
everything else. I encourage you to start slowly and choose just a few things
you can implement today. Little by little, add more strategies to your
self-care repertoire, notice the benefits, and above all, don’t forget to thank
yourself.
Mary Claire is a graduate
intern therapist at The Awakening Center. She will graduate from Northeastern Illinois
University in August 2019 with an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and will
become certified as a Licensed Professional Counselor.
Posts
