Do Not Ignore Your Self Care This Summer
Real self-care means loving yourself but not spoiling yourself. It means considering the consequences of your actions.
Do Not Ignore Your Self-Care This Summer
Time for a wellness tune-up
Summer is here, and it’s the perfect time for a health and wellness tune-up. We’ve been cooped up indoors for so long that we could all benefit from a check-in. It will help us to clarify what we need to feel better moving forward.
Whether you’ve decided on a staycation or a vacation this summer, you can decide to take that time to prioritize your self-care. The sun is out, literally and figuratively, and we’re all emerging from the darkness of Covid
The past fifteen months have been incredibly stressful – filled with pain, anxiety, and loss. So it would be good to get in touch with ourselves and tune into our needs. And it starts with carving out the time for self-care.
Parents have never been so stressed
If you’re a parent, you’ve spent the past year and a bit wearing multiple hats: teacher, therapist, and home-based worker. It’s exhausting. But children’s mental health has been sorely stressed throughout the pandemic, and it might be difficult for you to feel entitled to self-care.
You should know that you matter, too, and that taking care of yourself can only make you a better parent to your kids.
Singles have never been so lonely and isolated:
If you’re a single person living alone, the loneliness might have been oppressive because of the social distancing. But, on the other hand, it could be easy, once you’re vaccinated, to go a bit crazy, trying to make up for a lost time. Or maybe your loved ones are putting pressure on you to spend time with them.
After so much time alone, it’s a good idea to take it slowly and adjust to the changes gradually. It’s important to try and maintain some balance, not getting distracted by all the social opportunities and forgetting about your own needs.
The Eight Basics Elements of Self-Care
When I think about the basics of self-care, eight factors you should know!
- Nutrition
- .Sleep
- Exercise
- Leisure
- Creativity
- Stress relief
- Spirituality
- Social connections
If you want to achieve optimum wellness, you’re going to have to take care of yourself this summer. You’ll need to start by tuning in and asking yourself tough questions about each of these areas.
Are you eating healthy food in moderation? Maybe you are not getting enough good-quality sleep? Are you moving your body and keeping it fit and limber? Are you engaging in leisure activities that bring you joy? Should you be pursuing any type of creativity, whether it’s art, crafting, or a hobby?
Are you making sure to de-stress through yoga, tai chi, breathing exercises, meditation, or mindfulness? Are you connecting deep within yourself? Or are you connecting to a higher power? Whether on your own, in a religious setting, or out in nature? Are you keeping your relationships strong and meaningful? All of these things are essential in maintaining wellness.
Understanding what self-care means
Sometimes, we misunderstand the nature of self-care. It doesn’t mean self-indulging in food or counter-productive behaviors. It doesn’t mean self-medicating with alcohol or other substances.
Real self-care means loving yourself but not spoiling yourself. It means considering the consequences of your actions.
For this reason, there are three things to remember this summer: Pace yourself – don’t go from zero to one hundred, or you’ll risk getting overwhelmed. Balance the need to let loose with the need to be safe. But, unfortunately, the variants are here, and they’re highly infectious.
Respect yourself and acknowledge your limits and vulnerabilities. Don’t let anyone push you to do things you’re not comfortable with. The other importing thing to know about self-care is that there’s a big difference between wellness and immediate gratification. Wellness is about seeing the big picture and understanding that pleasure isn’t the same as health or happiness.
For example, being hung-over or sick from over-indulging the night before will make you unable to function at home and work, and ultimately it will deprive you of happiness and success.
If you start going on a sex spree after months of enforced celibacy, you might be in for some nasty surprises.
The bottom line is that if you go wild, there will be consequences. if you focus on self-care as opposed to immediate gratification, you’ll be healthier, happier, and ready for success over the summer and as life gradually re-opens
You will also enjoy The Art of Self-Care for Sensitive People
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About the Author
Marcia Sirota MD FRCP(C) is a board-certified psychiatrist, that does not ascribe to any one theoretical school. Rather, she has integrated her education and life experiences into a unique approach to the practice of psychotherapy. She considers herself a realist with a healthy measure of optimism. Sign up here for her free monthly wellness newsletter. Listen here to her latest podcast. mariasirotamd.com
My new book, Be Kind, Not Nice: How to Stop People-Pleasing, Build Your Confidence and Discover Your Authentic Self, is now available on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca
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