How do YOU define Self Care?

I love this question. Self-care is a hot topic right now, so I'm sure you're not alone in feeling like you're not sure what it means. It's often used as a buzzword, but it's important to understand what self-care actually does for us—and how we can practice it more often.

Self-care can mean different things for different people. It could mean getting enough sleep and eating three square meals a day. It could also mean taking time for yourself each week to do something that makes you happy: reading a book, going to the movies, or even just sitting outside and enjoying nature.

It's important to remember that no one is perfect when it comes to self-care—we all need reminders of our own importance! But the more we practice good self-care habits, the better off we'll be!

You deserve to love yourself.

You are all you've got.

Self-care is the first step to loving yourself, and it's a big one. Once you can accept that, you can start taking steps to really love yourself.

You know what? Self-love isn't easy for many people. It took me years to get here myself.

This is the first step is to start loving yourself, and it's a big one. Once you can accept that, you can start taking steps to really love yourself.

I have done a lot of hard work to get to where I am today. I've read books, cried on the bathroom floor, screamed until my voice was hoarse and raw, laid in bed for hours at a time wondering why life is so hard, prayed for answers, meditated on my situations until my brain was mushy and exhausted from thinking about it so much, given up hope of ever finding happiness in this life… but finally—finally—I am here now, and the journey continues.

Smalltown Table creates easy ways for you to love and share healthy habits and products to incorporate into your every routine.

Let's get to the good part...

Do you have a self care routine in place?

Every human needs a self care routine in their life. A self care routine is something you do on a regular basis to take time for yourself and to make sure that you’re feeling good about yourself. It can be something as simple as taking a bath or going for a walk once a week, but it should also include things like practicing gratitude and reflecting on what went well during the day and what could have gone better.

A good self care routine will help you feel good about yourself and have more energy to carry out other tasks that are important in your life (like schoolwork).

Download our Free Morning & Evening Routine Tracker Templates!

 

A great way to start your own self care routine is by writing down three things that make you feel happy at the end of every day. Keep this list somewhere where it's easy for you see so each morning when you wake up, look at your list! This will help remind yourself of little ways throughout the day that keep making life fun even if they don't seem like much on their own.

 

Do you journal? 

One of the most important forms of self care is journaling. Journaling helps you process your emotions, reflect on your life and solve problems. There are many different types of journaling: some people write a daily journal that chronicles their daily activities and thoughts, others keep dream journals or gratitude journals. Our welcoming subscription box gift includes our go to journal.

Journaling also helps with goal setting which is an important part of self-care because it keeps us motivated towards our goals. The more we practice writing out our goals, the easier it becomes to manifest them in reality

Our journal that comes as Welcome gift to the Good Habit's Club, and also sold separately.

 

Are you taking time for yourself?

Taking time for yourself is important, whether it's a long weekend away or a simple lunch break. If you feel like your schedule is running you ragged, consider these tips to help you carve out some self-care time in your life:

• Figure out what works best for your schedule—do you need to plan this into the beginning or end of your day? Or maybe there's an hour or two in between work and family commitments where no one will hear if the house catches on fire. What can you do with that time?

• Keep track of everything you do everyday. Every. Little. Thing. I found a lot more Tik Tok scrolling then I thought.

• Start small—try creating a simple routine that allows you to take five minutes when things get stressful at work and listen to music or read a magazine (or whatever makes YOU happy). Then build up from there! It'll be easier than going from zero to sixty all at once.

Are you listening to your body's needs? 

We all know that sleep is important to our health, but do we really listen when our bodies are telling us it's time for bed? Your body is your best friend and it has been there for you through thick and thin. It’s the one thing in life that will never leave you. Your body lets you know how it feels with its feelings and sensations, so if something feels off or strange, take note of what is happening in your body and don't ignore these clues!

If my feet start hurting after running 5 miles (or even 3), then I know that they need rest. If I am feeling hungry between meals but not exhausted from hunger, I eat something small like an apple or some nuts to keep my energy levels up without damaging my metabolism. If I feel like moving around during my lunch break instead of sitting at my desk eating another sandwich or microwaved frozen entree again (because let's be real--those don't make anyone happy!), then chances are good that going for a walk will help me feel refreshed when returning back home later on tonight!

Do you put YOURSELF first? 

To me, putting myself first means being intentional about my desires and needs. It means giving myself time and space to breathe, so I can be more present in my relationships with others.

It's not always easy to put yourself first. In fact, it's kind of hard sometimes because we're conditioned to put the needs of others before our own. But if you want to be the best version of yourself possible—a person who is well-rested, healthy and happy—you have to make it a priority.

The key here is simply doing whatever it takes for you personally: taking short naps when your body craves them; meditating when your mind needs some peace and quiet; going for walks when stress feels overwhelming (or even just getting out in nature); going on dates with friends or family members who bring out the best parts of us ... there are so many ways we can take care of ourselves!

Take care of yourself. Stop living someone else's idea of a good life.

It’s important to note that self-care is not a luxury. It’s a necessity. You have to take care of yourself first before you can take care of others, and this is especially true if you have children or other dependents who rely on your energy, time and attention.

The reason why people don’t prioritize their own health and well-being is because they feel like they don't have time or they're too busy focusing on everyone else's needs first which can cause burnout quickly if this pattern continues over an extended period of time.

Self-care isn't just about sleeping more or eating healthy foods either—it's also about learning how to recognize when something isn't working for us so we can make changes accordingly instead of blaming ourselves for being "lazy" or "unmotivated." Self-care isn't always easy at first; it takes practice! But once we do start practicing self-love regularly, the benefits will begin showing up in our lives almost immediately: better moods during difficult times; higher levels of confidence due to increased self esteem; lower stress levels overall because things aren't simply getting worse anymore (or at least not nearly as bad).

I define self care as a way to nurture yourself, so you can be your best self and live the life you want to live.

It's not just about eating well or exercising—although that's part of it. It's also about spending time doing things that bring you joy and making sure you're taking care of your mental health in healthy ways, too.

I believe that if we all take better care of ourselves, we'd be able to make the world a better place.

Do you agree?