The Best Ways to Effectively Practice Self-Care
Self-care is something that I struggle with.
I’ve been working from home, helping care for my family members, trying (but mostly failing) to keep up with friends, and trying to create consistent content for my brand. As a black woman, I am also witnessing the tragedies of police brutality against my people and the tragic loss of lives due to the pandemic we are unfortunately all trying to live through. I am tired.
September is “Self Improvement Month” so I am making it a point to focus on self-care for myself during this upcoming month.
So first things first, self-care is something that you have to define for yourself. When the idea of self care originally came onto the scene, it was defined as that “spa day” type of thing with a sprinkle of “treat yo self” on the side. Now, as we are in the middle of a pandemic, self care especially for me, is completely different from what it could have been in the past.
For example, a month ago, it looked like me, laying in bed, binge-watching “Unsolved Mysteries” on Netflix all day long. I said, “treat yo self” and had myself a cupcake (or three) and even took a nap (which is something I rarely do). Two weeks later, it looked like me knocking out hella content by recording videos for YouTube, taking a jillion pictures, switching outfits, hair and makeup like a mad woman all Saturday long. Another Saturday in the future, it could look like waking up hella early, doing Effect Fitness’ boot camp on demand and spending a few hours on FaceTime with the homies. There’s really no telling what self care will mean for you at any given time so you have to decide what it is that is most needed for your mental state in order to help yourself have a better future.
Self care is doing something for yourself today that allows the future version of you to reap the benefits as well.
The reason why I define self care that way is because I believe that anything that you do in the name of self care that is a detriment to you in the future, is not self care. No matter how much you want to lie to yourself and yell out “treat yo self!”, you are doing the complete opposite of what self care actually is.
For example, say you see a bag that you really want, and it’s $300, but you KNOW your student loan payment is due day after tomorrow, if you buy that bag today and can’t make your full student loan payment, that is not self care. You won’t even be able to enjoy your bag because you’ll be stressed thinking about, “how am I going to pay my student loan? Dang, I hope my account doesn’t overdraft!”. Now you’ve risked your credit and finances all for something that you won’t even feel good about in two days.
Self care has to make sense and be for your greater good.
Also, self care does not always feel good. Sometimes, it is THE worst but it’s for the best. For example, I love working out…once my workout is complete. Getting myself motivated to start the workout is usually the hardest part for me; especially this summer since it has been SO hot outside. I’ve had to alter my sleep schedule so that I can get up before the sun to workout which just adds to the not wanting to workout. But current Keri knows that all the work that I am doing will result in future Keri being much more SNATCHED than my current self. So, I am up M-F at 6ish* in the morning, getting my workout in, all in the name of self-care.
So, I say all that to say, be good to yourself, be kind to yourself and help your future self out by doing what needs to be done today, in order to keep your “star player” (you), mentally, physically and spiritually— healthy, happy and healed. We’re living in the middle of a pandemic during an election year so everything is chaotic and crazy but please don’t forget yourself and GIVE YOURSELF GRACE. Take time off from that job, your studies (if you can) and/or your responsibilities (within reason) to care for yourself in the safest and healthiest ways that you can.
If you want some help with self care ideas and/or if you ever need someone to talk to, hit my DMs and we’ll chat.
Until next time,
xoxo,
Keri Kontours