In a world that demands you to be constantly present, plugged in, and available, taking time for yourself is essential. It is easy to allow yourself to be absorbed by work, school, or family obligations, however, finding a balance between these things and time to yourself is what will keep you afloat.
Taking time for yourself does not have to look a certain way; sometimes, there is nothing glamorous about self-care, and that’s what makes it healing. Self-care looks different for everyone, and it should be centered around what makes you feel content, aware, and at peace.
The important thing about self-care is that there is nothing selfish about it; the practice of taking the time to recenter your mind and body is a practice that makes you more available to yourself and the rest of the world.
Self-Care vs. Selfishness
There is nothing selfish about taking the time you need to heal, recover or decompress. When you are engaging in activities that help your mind and body unwind and reconnect, you are actually doing yourself and the other people in your life a service.
Taking care of yourself is what allows you the space to experience growth and positive change through reflection or introspection. This allows you to have a larger capacity in terms of what you can handle in your life, and how you are able to support your friends and family.
Selfishness involves acting in ways that are exclusively self-serving, with a total disregard for how you may be affecting others. While participating in self-care should be centered around your experience, your intention remains positive, and the result is a healthier version of yourself. Indulging in selfish behavior results in a person who harbors ill feelings towards themselves as well as others.
Take a look at this insightful article by medium.com, which discusses why self-care is not selfish from a logistical standpoint.
You Deserve to Do What You Love
A simple way to give yourself some joy is to find something that you love, and create the time you need to do that activity. This could include listening to your favorite album and having a dance party in your kitchen, or sitting down in a park for a few hours to read a good book.
Find what brings you joy, and make it a priority; whether you spend 5 minutes or 5 hours doing it, you’re still making time for you, which is so important.
Find Healthy Practices
A vital part of taking time for yourself is finding healthy practices that bring you joy, but also that positively benefit your living experience.
One practice that many people turn to for self-care is meditation. We love meditation because it is versatile, and you can practice meditation in any way that calms your mind and connects you with your body. Take a look at this article healthline about the different types of meditation, and find which one is fitting for you.
Gardening for Self-Care
Another beneficial and healthy practice to add to your self-care routine is gardening. Gardening is a beautiful practice because it has so much to offer us; the lessons that can be sowed from the garden are plentiful and always relevant.
In your garden, learn about patience, nurturing and tranquility while providing your mind and body with a relaxing environment. Read more in our article about Why Gardening is so Good For You.
Find Your Purpose
Participating in taking time for yourself is a fantastic way to get in touch with your goals; giving yourself the time to reflect allows you to connect with your intentions. Creating an intentionality with which you navigate the world significantly trims down the amount of stress you endure, while also giving you more confidence and control over your experiences.
By finding this intentionality and purpose in your daily life, you will trust yourself more. With this trust comes more joy and more availability to share love with others. In addition, you will feel motivated and empowered to continue striving towards your goals, because you know that you deserve to accomplish them.
Take the Time You Need
At the end of the day, the work you do and the relationships you foster are only as good as you allow yourself to be. Meaning that you have to start from within in order to really achieve growth in your life. This may sound daunting, but all you need to do is take some time to give yourself rest, joy, clarity and peace of mind, and you’ll be on the right track to introspection.
If you don’t know where to start with your self-care journey, try taking a moment of stillness in your garden and practicing reconnecting with yourself.
