When is the last time you did something just for you?

So often it can seem our world and lives are busier than they have ever been before. Supply and demand have forced so many people to work much more than a 40-hour work week; not to mention playing maid, chauffeur, and chef, etc. to our families. It can be so easy to get lost in that hustle and bustle and forget to make time for ourselves. If we have a physical issue, our body tells us using signs like pain and irritation. However, it can be hard to notice when our mental health is suffering. Although our body tells us it’s suffering, we tend to brush it off as something else. If we have a headache, we may think, “I must need to drink more water,” instead of, “I must be really tense.”

Our mental health is just as important as our physical health – if not more. Mental health can impact our recovery time from a sickness. It can also affect how we interact with people and how we do our job. This is why making time for self-care is so important. Oxford Dictionary has multiple definitions of self-care, but I think the one that sums it up the best is, “the practice of taking an active role in protecting one’s own well-being and happiness, in particular during periods of stress.”

Self-care doesn’t have to be complicated and it won’t look the same for any two people. Self-care can be as simple as stealing five minutes to eat one of your favorite treats, or as elaborate as planning a trip for you and your friends to get away from the frenzy of life. A single parent may only have 20 minutes (or less!) to spare after their children go to sleep before they themselves pass out to do something small for themselves. Perhaps coloring a little bit, or reading a couple pages of a book, or even scrolling social media for a short time. Some people may be able to do something every day to take care of their mental health whereas others may only be able to squeeze something in once a week or month.

Some self-care ideas are:

• Hiking/walking/running
• Watching a tv show/movie
• Taking a bubble bath
• Reading
• Going to the gym
• Enjoying a cup of coffee or tea
• Doing yoga
• Journaling
• Taking a solo trip
• Enjoying a treat
• Connecting on social media with friends and family
• Taking a long shower
• Getting your hair or nails done
• Having dinner with friends

There is no wrong way to do self-care, as long as it isn’t harming others. You give so much of yourself to others, remember to take time to give back to yourself. Getting started is always the hard part, so maybe start small by stealing five minutes to take a breath and have a moment of calm.

– Misty Lucas, YWCA Northwestern Illinois