10 Expert Self-Care Tips You Need to Survive the Rest of 2020
If 2019 gave us the words “toxic” and “no cap” then 2020 gave us #Self-Care
The year 2020 has been brimming with words such as #quarantine and #Covid19. It’s been an insane year, and as it comes to a close, things just don’t seem to be letting up. In many ways, we are all way more stressed and anxious now than we were back in March!
In spite of, or maybe because of all the craziness, another trending hashtag emerged in 2020 - #Self-Care. People have been posting about all the ways they prioritize taking care of themselves and maintaining their sanity in these trying times.
But what exactly does it mean to practice self-care? For starters, self-care will look differently to different people. For some, it may be a spa day to get a manicure or a massage. For others, it’s about looking in the mirror and saying, “I’m proud of you”.
The essence of self-care is to reflect on the relationship you have with your inner being, the goddess that is within you. There are many forms of self-care ranging from physical and emotional to social and spiritual. Self-care, in my opinion, is taking time to practice forgiveness and extending grace to yourself. It’s a time to be intentional about your goals and assess what you are doing to attain them. Self-care is more than just a hashtag. It’s about being present and available to the people that love and support you. It’s also about showing gratitude. Self-care is acknowledging that you have made mistakes and being kind to yourself. Self-care is recognizing that your healing and well-being are a priority. After all, if you are not good for YOU, then you won’t be good for anyone or anything else.
What is self-care?
Self-care is any activity that is done deliberately in order to take care of your spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical health. Taking the time to be intentional about your own well being is vital to your relationships with others. As I said earlier, self-care in practice can look very different for different people. Part of practicing self-care is finding rituals that work for you.
What isn’t self-care?
Knowing what self-care is not might be even more important. By taking care of ourselves, we are in a better position to take care of others who depend on us such as our kids, romantic partners and colleagues. It is important that we understand that self-care is not a selfish act, but rather something we do selflessly in order to be our best selves.
We are mothers, entrepreneurs, wives and visionaries. Women are ambassadors for the human race, representing strength, love and life in all that we do. Thus, the need to maintain a positive state is essential to all those around us.
10 Tips for Practicing Self-Care
Create a work-life balance.
Take breaks when you need to.
Learn to say no.
Give yourself credit for how far you have come.
Make an appointment to see your doctor.
Do one thing a day that gets you closer to your goal.
Tomorrow is not promised. Use your PTO.
Get some sleep - you probably need more than you are getting
Focus on nutrition - not dieting to lose weight but making sure you are eating healthy.
Take a walk - sunshine and fresh air do a body good
And remember - refrain from judging how others practice self-care. Everything from a therapy session to a stiff drink can be self-care for someone!
About the Contributor
De’Jarnette K. Johnson is an author, blogger and owner of TheRealBlackCarrieBradshaw.com, a blog dedicated to love, life and relationships. De’Ja is a graduate of UA Little Rock with a Masters degree in Applied Communication with an emphasis on Interpersonal & Romantic relationships. Having completed her thesis on Ghosting, De’Ja has extensive knowledge on relational issues such as Attachment styles, Dark Triad personalities and Intrapersonal communication. She is also the creator of The Breakup Space, a 12-week program designed to help you cope with the loss of your relationship, manage your emotions and empower you to obtain the love that you deserve.
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