The Truth About Self-Care + Why You May Be Better At It Than You Think
Friends, self-care is not just an image on Instagram of some unrealistic bathtub in the woods (does anyone really take baths like that? No, no we don’t.) I don’t even remember the last time I went to the bathroom alone without someone coming in saying, MOMMMMMM let alone taking a luxurious bath.
If you’ve been around here for long enough, you know I even think that most of what you classify as self-care sucks. Yep. I teach an entire course on what you need instead of self-cafe and why your haircut is maintenance not self-care, it’s called Back to Me.
Why I’m writing this? Because I feel like self-care is so frequently talked about but never truly defined. Agree? What is self-care to you? To me, self-care is anything I do to take care of myself, anything that is 110% FOR MY PLEASURE. That’s why I like to call it “me time” vs. self-care. In this stage of life my me time looks like slower living, mornings with spaciousness vs. hustle, daily walks, dance parties when my kids are off the rails, coffee dates, breathwork, my perfect jeans, clean sheets, my husband, this blog, yummy meals and more.
Truth is, we all need to hit the pause button, to set aside time to breathe, unwind and find center again. How we do it can look different for everyone else, especially when you give, give, give and rarely take time for you.
Before you start making excuses let’s get one thing straight,
Self-care does not require a lot of time or money
and I bet you already do at least one act of me-time a day without even knowing it.
I know what you are thinking, Lyns I don’t have time for a massage and a facial is too expensive. Guess what? Working out, yoga, eating clean, setting boundaries, not over scheduling, meditation, prayer, journaling, cooking, listening to a podcast, cruising Anthropologie (because that store is legit my therapy, can I move in?), gardening, hiking, drinks with girlfriends, wine alone, a hot shower, buying yourself flowers just because, breathing, napping… these are all examples of me-time aka ways in which we can and should totally be taking care of ourselves without spending much time or money.
I mean hell, as a mom with three littles I count my daily shower as my me time! See I told you, you totally do at least one tiny bit of me-time a day.
true Me-Time is doing something 110% for yourself and being present when you do the thing.
For years I worked out because “I had to.” You know to keep it all tight, to maintain strength, and because of my past career in fitness. Then one day it dawned on me, I actually like working out! I like the way I feel afterward but I really LOVE the 20-60 minutes of total check out time too. Time where I am not thinking of a million things, trying to keep a toddler alive or even talking to someone else.
My workouts and yoga have turned into my best time alone, my best time to meditate, to connect with myself and to get some mental clarity. It is my time to be present, be happy and show up for myself.
Still feel like you have no time for anything?
You’re not alone. Taking time for yourself doesn’t even need to be an event or a class. It can be as simple as shifting your mindset. Start being intentional throughout your day. Take a 30 second pause to stand in the kitchen drinking coffee before rushing to get ready. Drive in silence and practice just being present. Enjoy a hug from your honey at the end of the day. These are all ways you can show up and consciously enjoy life, enjoy some me time.
Make the choice to slow down, to breathe, to be present, to feel gratitude.
Pro Tip: Sneak it in throughout the day so you have many small moments of OMG, this is great.
And if you find that you go all week without doing anything for yourself at all, today is the day to start. What ways are you already taking time for you? How do you practice self-care? I’d love to know!
xo. LynsP.S. if you’re feeling a little bit like a hot mess - that’s good - i specialize in hot mess! Yes, you can have that juicy happy life beyond your wildest dreams. Let’s make it happen! (just click here!)
