Taking Care of You
What are you doing to take care of you?
A friend asked me that the other day. I stumbled to answer.
The truth is that taking care of yourself doesn’t necessarily mean pampering yourself or going on a lavish vacation (although those certainly count). It’s more about recognizing that you are worthy of time and effort spent on your own health and wellbeing.
I can answer this question now, not because I’m doing more than I was than when she asked me the question, but because I see the depth of her question.
I make myself a green smoothie at least 6 days a week because since I started doing that a year and a half ago, I haven’t been sick.
I go on walks nearly every day to get myself out of the house and connect with nature. It’s helped my resting heart rate to lower significantly, and I feel better when I move.
I write every day because in my soul I’m a writer and that’s what writers do.
I read or listen to books every day because I love immersing myself in stories and new knowledge.
I make my bed each morning because it makes me feel good to walk into my bedroom and see order amidst the chaos.
I connect with friends and family and make time to see them or at least talk to them.
I do my best to think of future Margaret and not leave her messes to clean up because present Margaret doesn’t want to take an extra moment to do the thing that future me will have to deal with if I don’t deal with it now.
I drink enough water, so I’m not dehydrated, tired, or unnecessarily wrinkled.
There are a whole lot more things I can do to take care of myself. I love a pedicure, a salt/aromatherapy bath, a massage, or getting my haircut and brows waxed to feel like I’m pampering myself, but time and money make those more of a “special treat” than an everyday, every week, or every month way to take care of me.
The key is remembering that we can do little things for ourselves to say, “you matter”.
In relationships with friends, family, and romantic partners, we all know that the most important things are not the grand gestures, but the continued efforts to get our most basic needs met. Each thing above and beyond that makes us feel safer, more worthy, and more loved. Imagine the ripple effect of valuing ourselves enough to show ourselves how important we are!
I encourage you to make your own list. Remember to include little gifts for your future self. There’s nothing quite as sweet as not having to stop by the grocery store on your way home from work because your past self made a list and got it all picked up and put away the day before. Your present self deserves it!
