If you’re not taking care of yourself, then how can you take care of anything else?

Self-care has this flowery, feel-good reputation, but that’s only half the story. Taking care of yourself does, in fact, feel good.  It is necessary to fill your cup, and vital for your health and well-being. It helps you be the best version of yourself, not only for you but for everyone and everything in your life too. The rewards are far beyond anything I can explain in just one blog, but that isn’t the only side of self-care. I want to challenge the basic understanding of self-care and push us to even greater heights on this journey of self-love, growth, and purpose.

Self-care isn’t just a massage every once in a while. It isn’t an occasional getaway whenever you feel stressed.

Self-care is an everyday action and intention to love yourself more. Click To Tweet

The theme for our 5^th annual Loving on Me Day is #365SelfCare because self-care is truly a lifestyle. We want you to take care of you and feel good all year round, not just on special occasions. In celebration of self-care, Katrina shared some amazing tips in 7 Ways to Slay Your Self-Care.  This is our focus for the year, so we will be building on and sharing our favorite ways to pour back into us. Here are some of the practices that have challenged me and helped me grow throughout my journey. These aren’t easy, nor do they always feel good, but they are worth it:

Sit with Your Stuff.

Self-care isn’t just getting away from stress or overwhelming emotions, it is learning how to deal with them. How to live with them and still handle business. Self-care is the work required to find the underlying roots and to grow. It is sitting with your emotions, thoughts, and struggles and knowing that its okay to not be okay sometimes. It is getting to know every part of yourself and choosing to still love you! That requires alone time. It requires separation and dedication to understanding yourself and being honest with you. Be gentle.

Do the Work.

Self-care isn’t only identifying what is going on within yourself but also addressing it. Taking action and processing it. Facing your fears, your struggles, the less palatable parts of yourself. Doing whatever you need to do to take care of you. This might mean journaling, processing with friends or a therapist, exercise, yoga, dancing, alone time, prayer, eating healthy, resting, or a mix of all these and more. Do it! You are worth it.

Be Intentional.

Be intentional with your time, energy, thoughts, and actions. Make up your mind that you are worth it and be intentional at how you care for yourself. We are so good at caring for others and often forget about ourselves in the process. We can care for family and friends, but our needs always seem to be put off until “later.” That later usually never comes. Set aside time for the CEO of your life (YOU!!). Then stick to it! One of my favorite quotes is “Don’t set yourself on fire to keep others warm.”

Self-care isn’t selfish. Click To Tweet

When you are full, happy, and healthy it begins to trickle to every other area of your life. Be intentional with how you care for you.

Set Boundaries.

This sounds simple, but is probably one of the hardest parts of self-care. Setting boundaries means letting go of everything that doesn’t serve you – people, places, habits, etc. Learning to let go of any and everything that is hurting us more than helping us grow. If it isn’t moving you forward, it’s pulling you back. This requires ample thought into what you want and what you need. Then it requires action. Say “No!” Be ruthless with your time and energy. You and your purpose depend on it.

Celebrate the Little Victories.

Lastly, but deeeefinitely not least – Celebrate!!!! So often we look at life in milestones and goals. When I accomplish X then I will be happy. When I get to Y I can rest and celebrate. What we fail to realize is that there are only so many peaks. There are so many more days working towards that peak than the time we actually get to spend there. Growing isn’t easy and can hurt. Let’s hold onto our joy throughout this process. Learn to celebrate the little moments! That helps fuel you for your journey forward.

How do you take care of you? What are some of your essential self-care practices? Share some of your favorites below!

Hugs and Love!!!