Boundaries and Discipline? What does that have to do with self care? Isn't self care all about that luxurious massage and manicure we go for every weekend? What about that bubble bath you look forward to every other evening? We need to talk about the commodification of self care.
Self Care. Those two words. They're everywhere nowadays. It’s in fashion. It’s a trend. It’s yours, but only if you can afford to buy it. Self-care has become increasingly popular due to Covid-19 lockdowns and people spending more time indoors.
Capitalism has somehow managed to convert a majoritively feminist concept into a host of products and offers. From expensive yoga passes to luxurious skincare packages that truthfully nobody can afford to luxury bath bombs that promise to 'Soften your skin to that of its infant days'. It no surprise that self-care is being sold to women in what is a really deceptive way.
Even if you can afford it, why sign up for a $15-a-pop Bikram yoga class if you’re still juggling ridiculous workloads and work hours, enduring toxic relationships and trying to be everything and please everyone, all the time?
Sincerely caring for ourselves means directing our energy into feeding ourselves properly and putting healthcare, nutrition, mental health, spiritual well-being, healthy relationships and family first. Sometimes it’s as boring as cleaning our rooms or catching up on life admin like finally filing that overdue tax return to avoid further anxiety.
As Jordan Peterson famously says in his best-selling book '12 Rules for Life', "Clean up your room, clean up your life".
Sometimes it’s as thrilling as finding the real purpose of your life and sense of self through safe spaces and supportive relationships and communities.
Self care is a very personal matter, and everyone's approach will be varied. There are several aspects of self care and we will go through the most important ones. It may relate to what you do at work and how you care for yourself after work, prioritising mental and physical wellbeing so that you can meet your personal and professional commitments. Below are some of the different aspects of self care as mentioned above:
This is where discipline comes in. These are very important motions that will help you to stay fit and healthy, and with sufficient energy to get through your work and personal responsibilities.
3.Psychological and Mental Self Care
Very important especially in the new world of Covid-19 and all the mental ramifications that come as a result. Boundaries come into play here.
Different to psychological self care but allowing yourself to safely experience your full range of emotions without suppressing them.
5. Spiritual Self Care
This involves having a spirit of perspective beyond the day-to-day of life and engaging with God.
6. Relationship Self Care
This is about sustaining healthy and supportive relationships. It's also important that you have diversity in your relationships so that you are not only connected to work colleagues.
As we've read, self care isn't just fancy bubbles baths and pedicures. It's really prioritising ourselves in all aspects of life so that we become better and healthier versions of ourselves.
Putting together a self care plan is very important for our overall health as human beings. It helps us become better people, and as a result, have more energy and love for those around us.
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