Self-care is a largely misunderstood concept, especially among Christians. Some people believe that self-care means spending an entire day of pampering. While pampering is a great way to nurture oneself, it doesn’t essentially define self-care. Other people often view self-care as a luxury that many of us have neither the time nor the money to enjoy. Self-care does not need to involve an expensive spa or summer vacation, nor does it need to take many hours of the day.
According to everydayhealth.com “Self-care is a conscious act one takes in order to promote their own physical, mental, and emotional health. Self-care may take many forms. It could be ensuring you get enough sleep every night or stepping outside for a few minutes for some fresh air.” Self-care means meeting your own needs, so that you can meet the needs of others. Self-care is absolutely essential to our well-being.
Benefits of self-care
Self-care encourages you to maintain a healthy relationship with yourself, encourages you to reconnect, nourish, re charge and reenergize well before going into the world to serve. Christ demonstrated Self-care by taking time aside early in the morning to commune with the father. Mark 1:35 says “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”
When you take care of yourself, you will have so much more to give and with much more quality. When you feel good, treat yourself with respect, compassion, and care you feel good, the mood is elevated, you are happy, and that is contagious!
Types of Self-care
Physical Self-care; sleep, exercise, diet, water, fresh air, sunlight etc.
Mental Self-care; journaling, listening to music, time management, stress management, reading etc.
Emotional and social Self-care; developing healthy social connections, seeking psychosocial support, engaging in humanitarian work etc.
Spiritual Self-care: Developing a relationship with God/Supreme being, attending religious services, studying religious literature, praying, fasting etc.
Developing a Self-care Plan
List activities that are healthy and nourishing for you.
Commit some time every day for Self-care.
Block the time every day in your calendar daily.
Pick about 3 activities for your Self-care every day.
Repeat every day till it becomes an automatic habit.
How to enhance your self-care routine
Do things you love.
Start small to avoid getting overwhelmed.
Listen to your body; our emotions never lie to us.
Reward yourself when you have been consistent with your Self-care routine.
Be flexible in order to make little changes and adjust as the days go by.
It is impossible to live an abundant and purposeful life devoid of Self-care. Lack of Self-care causes individuals to judge themselves harshly or even believe that it is more important to sacrifice themselves for others, to please others, and place their needs first. Some people mistake being of service or being a good person with sacrificing their own dreams to make others happy. In this case they disconnect from their authentic self and become people pleasers.
if we loved and cared for ourselves enough, we would have less expectation on how others should love and care for us. Self-care is a life long journey of healing and restoration. As we make deposits into our bank accounts, we freely, joyfully and happily become a well spring to our loved ones as well as to a broken, hungry and thirsty world.
Will you commit to give yourself this very important gift today?
Rose Kwamboka Misati
Parenting and Relationships Coach
Certified Family Trauma Professional
Cognitive Behavior Therapy Practitioner
Email rkwamboka@yahoo.co.uk