People love to talk about self-care and how important it is and I agree. However, there is really more to taking care of yourself than putting on a face mask and having a day for yourself. These are the parts of self-care that are glamorized because they're fun. Other facets that aren't seen to be as enjoyable aren't talked about as much and can be forgotten.
In the last year, I've had to learn how to take care of myself and it wasn't easy. It was a lot of hard work that sometimes was really overwhelming. Due to being injured I had to put my health first, which sometimes meant putting fun on the back burner. Making decisions became more about my needs rather than my wants and it was sometimes upsetting. Though this type of self-care is more about my own circumstances it can generally be challenging as well.
When I was little I didn't realize that eating three meals a day would be a challenge, but when you're a college student balancing school, work, internships, clubs, etc., putting enough food in your body can be hard, let alone healthy food. I cannot tell you the number of times I would bump into friends of mine at 4 pm and they were just eating their first meal of the day. If you have a busy schedule make sure to bring snacks with you and eat a little throughout the day. Food like trail mix, fruit, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are not only easy to take on the go but are also good for you. This is something I am still trying to work on and should take priority in people's lives.
Mental and emotional health should also be a huge priority. I know it is sometimes easy to put this on the back burner, but it needs to be maintained in order to maintain overall health. Doing things like exercising, going to therapy, or being with friends can be really helpful. Taking care of your mind and your heart is not something that you can tangibly see, but it is a necessity. I have not yet mastered this either, but it is definitely a work in progress.
I mentioned how putting on a face mask and having a "you" day is the fun part of self-care, but that is not to say you shouldn't do it. Making self-care fun is really important so that you actually do it. However, aspects such as feeding yourself, don't necessarily appear to be a part of self-care, but they are. Learning a healthy way to take care of is a process.
Be patient with yourself. Taking care of yourself can be hard, but don't give up. It's worth it.
