Self Care – What Does it Mean to You?

“Take care of yourself!” We say it all the time, but how many of us actually put that age-old pearl of wisdom into practice?

There is no better time to hone the fine art of self care than right now. Life is too stressful to NOT take good care of ourselves.

That said – what is self care? What does it mean to you?

Self care is a way to nurture the body, mind and spirit– with the goal being optimum health in each of these areas. What this might mean depends on the individual and their beliefs/lifestyle choices. Your self-care methods might be very different from mine… yet each of us is doing the very things that bring us health, vitality, success and satisfaction.

WHY is self-care important? When we are at our optimum health we have the energy and stamina to create a life that is fulfilling to us.

Do you have certain daily practices or “healthy rituals” that you engage in to keep yourself nourished, well-rested and feeling positive as often as possible?

I’ll be honest with you. One of my greatest challenges, to this day, is to stay committed to a self care plan. My plan includes drinking 8 glasses of water each day, getting to bed at a reasonable hour, eating fruits and vegetables, exercise and of course, taking time to nourish the spirit of my inner being.

That means I don’t pass up a chance to take a walk into town. I make time for my favorite activities, like horseback riding, hiking and ballet dancing. And of course, I try to surround myself with people and activities that support who I am on the inside! (After all – emotional well being has a lot to do with overall well being).

I know how challenging it can be to make that “in-the-moment” choice to do what you know will be best for you. After all, we’ve all passed up needed hours of sleep because we’re either feeling pressured or just having “too good a time” for the moment. Everyone indulges in fattening foods, plays hooky from the gym in favor of being a couch potato, and all those other activities that “blow us off course” from our self care goals.

I know the negative impacts of not taking care of myself. After a while of ignoring my inner needs, I might feel especially lethargic. I might experience a “sugar crash” from eating the wrong things. Maybe my skin will reveal that I didn’t consume enough water or fruit that week. And my spirits might sag a bit as my body reminds me, “Hey, Susan, I need a little TLC to keep going at peak performance!”

AND, I also know the joy and fulfillment that comes when I DO engage in regular self care. When I nurture myself, I feel so much more alive and capable. Confidence comes much more easily and I wake up feeling happy and excited to begin my day.

Here’s a challenge for you to inspire you into a Self Care plan…

COACHING CHALLENGE

Choose just ONE activity that you will commit to doing for at least three weeks. Perhaps it’s taking a walk every other day, committing 15 minutes each day to journaling, adding one piece of fruit to your diet. Find someone, a partner or supporter who can encourage you to stay on track with your self care goals.

Comment on this question:

What self care practice are you willing to commit too?

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Susan Liddy is the author of the “Body Benevolence eBook; 8 Weeks to Loving Your Body” and “The Secrets to Ultimate Living; What You Wish You Knew When You Were 20!”. Find more of her tips and articles to create an ultimate life and an extraordinary business here: SusanLiddy.com

©copyright, All Rights Reserved Internationally, Susan Liddy, Susan Liddy International

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Tagged as: healthy eating, Healthy Living, self care