The ABC’s of Self Care
Think of the ABCs of Self-Care as your essential toolkit for building resilience and thriving. Mastering these foundational concepts will provide a roadmap for a healthier you, guiding you to prevent burnout and cultivate lasting well-being.
I was recently asked to present at a conference for care givers (specifically, those who care for terminal or seriously ill people). I was recruited to speak about how folks in this very high-burnout field can take better care of themselves to fend off not only burn out, but also something known as compassion fatigue (a significant symptom of burn out in which one’s ability to be compassionate atrophies, often resulting in apathy and at time callous, cynical responses and thought patterns where once kindness and empathy would have been). In my presentation, I shared that actual, meaningful, self care is not just flopping down on the couch to binge watch something, or treating yourself to an extra pastry or a massage. Instead, self care is actually taking real care of yourself—with the same intention, dedication, and rigor that others receive when they are ideally being taken care of.
“True self care is the best investment in yourself that you can make. One that will ALWAYS pay off.”
You can think of it in a similar vein to someone who goes into the hospital. Nurses and doctors take care of their patient. They assess what is going on, they put together a formal care plan, and they provide the hands-on care (which may or may not be entirely pleasant) until the patient is on their way to recovery. Within the world of self-care the process isn’t so different. It’s essential to understand who you are and what you need. It’s essential to intentionally put together a plan that will get you what you need to feel rested, restored, and fulfilled. And its essential to remain consistent with your self-care plan—honoring your purpose and investing in yourself with dedication.
So to that end, I am sharing my ABC’s of Self Care with you. The steps below are the big points—the broad strokes that can lead you into your own more detailed thinking and exploration. Comment and let me know what you think. And as always, if you’d like to explore and develop your own self care plan to help you find your purpose, intentionally engage your wellbeing, and keep it up so you find success, reach out, lets schedule some a session and get you on your way to wellness.
Assess your purpose
Take some time to articulate a personal vision statement for yourself, and allow it to guide you. Use your personal vision to guide your choices, inform healthy boundaries, and help you live in alignment with your values. Your actions and choices will be more worthwhile, and you’ll feel better about what you do.
Be intentional
True self care requires a bit of work and effort, but in reality, that work and effort is just a solid investment in yourself that will truly pay off.
There is a qualitative difference between “resting” and “relaxing with intention.” The former may feel good in the moment, but the latter will give both short term and long term results. So the next time you need a break, name it. Set an actual intention that your rest or relaxing activity is for the express purpose of being kind to yourself and re-charging your batteries. (Say it out loud if it helps!)
Consistency is key
Purposefully set aside regular times to rest and take care of yourself. If you wait until you really need downtime before you ever think about getting it, you’re probably too late. It's not that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, but rather it's a recognition that stress is ongoing and often unavoidable. Establishing good patterns and schedules of regular self-care is an essential investment in your wellbeing.