[CHAT] I look after me
When you think about what self-care actually is, it really seems like a no brainer. Really, who wouldn’t want to do things that make them a happier, more mentally balanced and less stressed out person on a regular basis?
Even though it seems like a pretty obvious choice, a lot of us (me included) can be not too great at implementing self-care on a regular basis. Instead we might choose to do things that are easier or take less mental energy, like maybe spending hours scrolling through Tumblr… Not that I would know anything about that.
There are a few reasons why we might slip up a little on practicing self-care. For many, self-care can seem like it’s optional or even a bit selfish. In a world where we’re constantly pushing ourselves to achieve more and do more to reach strict ideas of what makes a “good life” it can be difficult to feel like you’re justified in taking time out to look out for your own needs. Self-care is something that we all need to do once in a while, no ifs, ands or buts.
So what actually makes something self-care? Self-care can be a really individual thing for different people, for example for one person going for a run would be self-care but for another it might mean baking a cake. All self-care, no matter what it entails, has one thing in common. Self-care all involves taking time to look after you, whether that’s physically, emotionally or mentally.
Want to learn more about self-care and how you can make it a bigger part of your life? Great! Come and join @safari93 and @Chessca_H on Monday 20th, 8pm AEST as we chat about looking after yo’self.
@holoholo I scheduled self-care time during exams too, and usually the day of an exam I wouldn't study at all after it was done. It would mostly be debriefing and eating with study buddies
@safari93 I practically need to schedule eating time into my exams too!! I have a bad habit of forgetting to eat when stressed 
@stonepixie I feel u, sometimes you just have to take it easy. You know yourself best, anyways
@SailorE I do that as well! Listening to music or reading on public transport isn't always ideal, but it does help with winding down after a long and sometimes not very great day
In a world where we are pushed to our limits to work and achieve, how do you fit self-care into your life?
Scheduling it helps! I sometimes pretend that I have something important on at that time and excuse myself, although what usually ends up happening is a night in. Although sometimes of course you slip up and double-book yourself. In which case it's best not to be too hard on yourself about it. Schedule it another time, if you can
Time of the next question guys
In a world where we are pushed to our limits to work and achieve, how do you fit self-care into your life?
In a world where we are pushed to our limits to work and achieve, how do you fit self-care into your life?
Have a mental health day, well that is what I call it when I just can't go into tafe because I am dealing with too many things. And then I just do all the things that I enjoy.
Also, straight after appointments, I leave about an hour spare for travel and self care. Although there are times when I take a whole lot longer. Just means that I had a pretty full on session. If it is a later afternoon session, I will just take the rest of the day off to relax. I also schedule in self care the following day just specifically for if I'm not dealing too well with what was covered the day before. If I don't need it, then I don't use it.
Otherwise, I just do as needed.
@stonepixie yep, I'm pretty similar to this.
I tend to sometimes "cushion" my schedule with self care- for example, in an exam period? Have some time before and after reserved for self care each day. That kind of thing. I try to do one thing that makes me distracted and happy before and after school- usually an episode of anime in the morning and a nap after school, lol
You're all so much more organised with your self-care than me! Definitely taking some tips from this thread 🙂
@Chessca_H I'm a pretty disorganized person by nature- so I figure if I have to be organized about ONE thing, it should be my self care. Especially as I'm going through such a rough patch with school/mental wellbeing.
@stonepixie wow, sounds like you have it down! Great to see you're looking after yourself so well 🙂
I think with self-care, the phrase "you don't find the time, you make the time" is really applicable. If you're not careful, you can forget all about it and end up not feeling great
@SailorE I worried about that too for a long time, wondering if what I was doing for self-care was not just a bad habit or something that just wasn't helping generally
There seems to be another general theme coming out, which is not feeling like you deserve self-care. But then like @holoholo said, when you don't look after yourself everything else in your life takes a hit
Yes, all the time, partly because feeling worthless/felling I deserve things is something I struggle with in general, and sometimes because I find self care can slip into distractions if I'm not careful
Yeah, I still struggle to feel deserving of self care- which is really just one big self destructive cycle huh? Don't feel you deserve self care, dont self care, feel worse, dont feel you deserve self care....rinse and repeat. Not so helpful, but sadly the brain doesnt always make choices based on logic 😕
@N1ghtW1ng, sleep well! Great chatting 🙂
I certainly did, in the beginning. I think it comes back to the point that was made earlier about having nothing to show for self-care. It seemed like there were 'more' important and productive things I could be doing
Have you ever felt undeserving of self-care?
We already talked about it a little beforehand, but the focus in society around doing the most and being the best has definitely meant I've felt undeserving of self-care.
