What does self-care look like for you?

The term seems self explanatory, but self-care is important in our world. So much so, that it’s worth elaborating on. Balancing the daily grind of managing work, home, relationships, a global pandemic, civil unrest, AND cancer?! Well, we feel anxious and exhausted just listing it all off. No wonder it takes such a massive toll on our mental health! 

It’s critical to your health that you take time out to practice self-care, in whatever form that looks like for you. So, let’s talk about it.

What is self-care, anyway? 

Self-care: making time to invest in your mind, body and soul. Doing things that make you happy. 

This is your time to put yourself first, and not feel the least bit guilty about it! Sounds like a dream, right? Most of us haven’t traveled much lately, but we’ve all heard the old airplane cliche: “Put your own oxygen mask on first, before helping others.” The same advice applies here. Taking care of yourself first helps you to be your best for all the other things that matter to you: taking care of your family, being a better bud, kicking cancer’s ass... you name it! 

Sometimes, self-care can seem like a chore.

Anything that requires time or effort sometimes winds up as yet another item on our endless to-do lists. Whether you’re in treatment or recovery, it can be hard enough just to get through the day. Making time for anything beyond bare-minimum survival or even just enjoyable feels impossible. We’ve totally been there, and we’re here to tell you that it’s worth it to put yourself first. You’re worth it, bud!

A few ideas to get you started:

Begin with the basics. 

Make a list of things you love, and start doing one each day. Easy! If it still feels like you’re fighting the clock to take care of yourself, channel your inner Marie Kondo. Pin point and simply stop doing what doesn’t spark joy. Or at the least, try to find ways to invest less of your energy into those things. 

Disclaimer: We’re guessing that treatment and/or hospital visits don’t “spark joy” in a traditional sense for any of us. Personally, we make a herculean effort to mind jiu jitsu ourselves into seeing those must-dos from a more positive perspective. After all, they help us feel better and live healthier in the long run, right? If the idea of a longer, healthier life doesn’t spark joy for you, what does?!