I know all you hear about is self-care lately -- get a massage, aroma therapy, meditate and drink a hot tea. It seems to be the rap that’s going out. In fact, some of my clients are getting stuck on this. “Honestly, Terri, I don’t find baths relaxing.” So what? -- What would you like to do?
The message going out to the world is that self-care is all about relaxing, calm and wellness – in a conventional way. Maybe it’s a way to sell wellness programs essential oils and aroma therapy.
Truth is: self-care can be anything you want it to be – and it’s totally up to you.
I know there are times that I just want to curl up in a blanket with a cup of tea. I usually know what my soul needs at the time. On a warm spring day, I like to go on a bike ride, or a walk in the woods. Sometimes it’s raspberry season, and I’m eating the berries off the vine.
When I worked my corporate job, I brought a book or kindle to work and read in the break room or cafeteria. If the weather was nice, I sometimes went for a short walk.
Let me sum it up for you.; Self Care. It’s what your self needs to feel cared for at any particular time.
For some people, it might mean cranking up the Bob Marley and dancing around the living room.
All within a week, I had 3 entirely different examples. One of my clients said that she planned on spending Sunday afternoon doing collages and watercolors. A couple days later, one of my clients said she wanted to finger paint, and had the paints and paper in her cabinet ready to go. They both said that would put them in peace.
One client said she had spent a couple hours at the museum of science and history, especially in the marine section, and felt like a kid let out of school. She love science and her inner child curiosity comes out. I told her she should reward herself periodically with some kind of museum visit or science escape.
For some more examples, I asked some of my clients and friends what they do for self-care.
Lots of different things came up.
Dancing
Going for a walk
Reading a book with a cat in her lap
Jogging
Working out at gym
Playing piano
Cooking
Gardening, yard work
Drawing
Doing crossword puzzles, Sudoku
Napping
Browsing at art gallery
Surfing
Cycling
Playing with dog/cat
Several years ago, I was at a training conference in Orlando. The weekend in between, everyone went to Disney. Having not so much of a connection with my colleagues, I took off on my own. I allowed my inner child to come out and play. I even spent almost 2 hours on Tom Sawyer’s island, surprising some of the adults as I ran through the woods and jumped on the barrel bridges… I don’t think I would have let loose like that with my colleagues.
My husband gets excited when he has a new book to read. One friend delights in the adventure of an exploration in his neighborhood woods.
To me, self-care is about feeding your soul. Your soul knows what it’s craving for and your inner child knows what it needs.
I’m going to challenge you. Quickly write down as many things you can think of that you can do in 10 – 20 minutes. Keep the list and refer to it regularly, or when you have some spare time to fill.
If you're really daring, make a list of things you can do in one hour, and plan to do one each week.
I would love to hear more ideas. Please feel encouraged to share yours below.
If you would like to talk more about self-care or want more info, please email me at: terri@terrihofstetter.com or schedule a 30 minute chat here
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