A note on self-care, and a certificate

I received some lovely post yesterday, and further along the train of thoughts, I started thinking about self-care.

 



 

 

I went on this course to learn how to listen better or more effectively, and came away knowing a lot more about myself too. Even though the course was focussed on listening to others, we were also encouraged to listen to ourselves.

After all, it’s difficult to help others and maintain a client caseload if you’re struggling with keeping all the balls in the air. More generally, it’s difficult to take care of everyone around us and close to us, if we aren’t looking after ourselves too.

The last session of the course focussed on self-care, and we dedicated 30 minutes to an art and craft activity - an A3 sheet of paper, a representation of us in the centre, surrounded by all the ways we look after ourselves. They gave us the SPICES framework:

Spiritual

Physical

Intellectual

Creative

Emotional

Social

 

and encouraged us to think of the ways we look after ourselves on the above dimensions.

Here is mine:

I wonder, am I making you uncomfortable? Is it uncomfortable to talk about self-care, when it is taboo and frowned upon to lift ourselves up in anyway, instead infusing every positive comment with sarcasm? Does it make us look selfish in any way? Or is it ok?  I’ve often found that I’ve been met with a hint of disdain when I’ve talked about myself in a positive way, or how I’m doing something for me. Have you experienced that?

The point of this post is not to boast in any way about getting a certificate for my course. It’s a recognition of the fact that I did that course for me, and for me only. I didn’t do it under advice, coercion, or because I didn’t know what else to do (something that I’ve done often in the past). Straight away, the element of self-care pops out at me, that I did this course, for me. To learn and try something new, just because I felt like it.

Even if it’s uncomfortable to talk about, it is important to take care of ourselves. It restores energy, and allows us to give more freely of ourselves. And I mean always, not just when we’re ill, or run-down. It’s important to take care of ourselves, each day, each week, each month. It doesn’t have to be big, or cost any money. I’m not talking endless spa days here. I certainly can’t afford a spa-day or a massage every month!

It’s the little things that count. Seeing friends, a bath, a good book, exercise, going outside, sitting in the garden, engaging in a hobby, a hot drink, a spot of decluttering, an early night, listening to music, whatever makes you feel good and restored. There are millions of ideas for this, and even throwing out all stained and ratty clothing can feel like you’re looking after yourself (I did this just recently, and it’s brilliant). My personal favourite is putting on a big comfy hoodie (with the hood up), joggers and curling up somewhere comfy (yep, even in summer, especially after a day outside).

Over to you

You could make up your own A3 poster, cut out pictures of things like we did on the course. You could follow the SPICES approach and see which areas need attention. You could write a list of the things you’ve done recently, and of things you’d like to do.

How do you look after yourself? If you don’t take time out just for you, how could you start? I’d love to hear from you in the comments.

Thanks for reading!