What is Self-Care?
During a recent flight, I was struck by the familiar airline safety instruction: ‘Put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others.’ As a parent, we hear this advice repeatedly, yet how often do we truly implement this wisdom in our daily lives?
When I worked full time and my children were young, it was a challenge to stay on top of everything. The tone to life was a madcap rush that dominated everything.
For years, I neglected my own well-being, drowning in a sea of children’s schedules, birthday parties, and endless taxi services. Between coordinating extracurricular activities and ensuring perfectly packed lunch boxes, I had become a master of everyone’s needs—except my own.
It was rewarding to see my children socially active, engaged, and happy, but during that time, I really didn’t have much scope to think about the one person that ought to have the oxygen mask, and the life jacket strapped on tightly: ME.
How dedicated are we women to REALLY taking care of ourselves and stepping up to being responsible for our own wellbeing? What does a good self-care plan involve? Well, I’m glad you asked.
The Reality of Self-Care
Despite the constant chatter about self-care in podcasts and talk shows, most women struggle to genuinely prioritize their own health. Consider what was quoted in an article in Within Health: it maintained that while 92% of Americans report practicing self-care, the average person feels relaxed for only 40 minutes daily, highlighting a significant gap between intention and implementation. In addition, the article states that American dedicate six hours per week to self care.
Why Self-Care Matters
Self-care isn’t a luxury; it’s a critical investment in personal and family health:
- Reduces risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and depression
- Serves as a powerful stress-reduction mechanism
- Improves overall mental resilience and job satisfaction
The Eight-Step Self-Care Transformation
Step 1: Self-Assessment
- Create a personal inventory of your life domains
- Rate satisfaction in physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual areas
- Identify specific neglected zones requiring attention by rating your satisfaction in each area on a scale of 1-10.
Rationale: Understanding your starting point is crucial. Without clear self-awareness, meaningful change becomes challenging.
Step 2: Set Realistic Goals Approach
- Use SMART criteria (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound)
- Example goals:
- Exercise three times weekly
- Practice 10-minute daily mindfulness
- Establish consistent sleep schedule
Rationale: Goals should stretch you without overwhelming you.
Step 3: Prioritize Small, Actionable Changes Practical Strategies
- Start with minor adjustments that fit into your daily routine.
- Examples:
- Replace sugary snacks with fruits
- Take 10-minute walking breaks
- Swap evening screen time for reading
- Practice 5-minute morning meditation
Rationale: Small changes are less overwhelming and more likely to lead to sustainable habits.
Step 4: Build a Self-Care Routine Daily Framework
- Create a daily or weekly self-care schedule.
- Morning: Gratitude practice or intention setting
- Afternoon: Mindful break or light stretching
- Evening: Reflection and next-day planning
Rationale: Regular self-care rituals help reinforce positive habits.
Step 5: Cultivate a Supportive Environment Key Actions
- Share self-care goals with trusted friends/family
- Join supportive communities and methods that encourage self-care.
- Create accountability systems
Rationale: A supportive environment boosts motivation and accountability.
Step 6: Invest in Professional Support if Needed
- Schedule regular health check-ups
- Seek guidance from coaches, therapists, or healthcare providers
- Address underlying personal challenges
Rationale: Professional insights can provide tailored strategies and help address underlying issues.
Step 7: Monitor and Adapt Continuous Improvement Techniques
- Track habits via journal or app
- Quarterly self-review to reflect on what’s working or what needs adjustment.
- Remain flexible and kind to yourself
Rationale: Regular reviews ensure your practices remain effective and aligned with your evolving needs.
Step 8: Celebrate Wins
- Acknowledge and reward your progress.
- Treat yourself to something enjoyable, like a favourite activity or small indulgence, when reaching milestones.
Rationale: Positive reinforcement helps maintain momentum and makes self-care enjoyable.
Reflect and Act
Self-care isn’t a destination, but an ongoing journey of personal growth and compassion. Try to be honest with yourself and compile a “You are Here” map acknowledging where you are in your self-care journey. Be realistic as you identify areas for growth. My own self-help journey is still underway with many pitstops and disappointments along the way. But there is no finish line, cheat sheet, or report card provided. For you, all that is on the line is your ability to respectfully hold yourself accountable and support your own individual growth.
Luckily, the best thing about the process is that there is no downside or loss, while on the upside there are many rewards. Your self-care journey is unique. There’s no universal blueprint—only personalized paths of understanding, nurturing, and honouring yourself.
