Self-care has become a buzzword, but not all of the references are helpful—some can even be toxic.
The truth is, self-care isn’t all about indulgence or fun. Much of it involves the hard, sometimes monotonous tasks we often try to avoid. It’s about routines, cleaning, and tackling the little things we don’t always enjoy. But those difficult, seemingly annoying tasks are essential for taking care of ourselves.
Regular cleaning, decluttering, and daily tasks like laundry and dishes are all forms of self-care. It’s easy to see that when someone neglects their home, they’re probably neglecting their own well-being too. Maintaining order in our lives reduces stress. Clean dishes make it easier to prepare a nutritious meal. Having clean clothes means you’re not hunting for something to wear in a pile of laundry.
Self-care can easily be the first thing to go when life gets overwhelming. You stop maintaining boundaries, skip routines, and let everything fall apart. It’s like juggling too many things, and when you drop the balls, it takes extra time and energy to pick them up again.
I’ve experienced this many times, and right now, it feels like life is trying to run me over again.
I haven’t had my morning routine in over three weeks. I’ve only managed to make it to Jiu-Jitsu twice, maybe three times to the gym. I have a few more days of this chaos, and then I can get back to normal and have my regular workouts.
I know I need to plan my breakfasts and lunches better on Tuesdays, since I’m out all day and need to eat. I need to restock my freezer with breakfast options. I need to meal plan for dinners. I need to regain control of my life because, honestly, this is driving me crazy.
Even in the midst of this busyness, I’ve been working on switching out my winter clothes instead of digging through tubs every day. It’s been a slow process, but I’m almost done—after over a week. I’ve kept up with laundry and dishes. I’ve mopped the house as I could, sometimes just one room at a time. I’ve pulled out my computer to write for 10 minutes or to work through one module of my blog.
I’ve also found a meditation tool that helps ground me, and I’ve used it several times. It’s better than doing nothing.
I’m doing my best not to feel resentful about losing my time to tasks that aren’t about me.
As a caregiver, it’s all about balancing your own needs with the needs of others. This isn’t just about caring for kids—it applies to anyone in a caregiving role. As healthcare providers, we can get to the end of a shift without having had a single sip of water. We might survive on graham crackers and peanut butter. Those days are tough, and it’s easy to feel resentful of everyone else who demands your time. But here’s the key: take your breaks. Step away for 15 minutes to sit down, breathe, and drink some water. Your first job is always to take care of your basic needs. Only then can you truly take care of others.
Some ways that I’m taking care of myself on a daily basis.
Challenge for today:
Check in with your coworkers. Ask if they have water nearby or if they’ve had lunch. Use this as a reminder for yourself too. We all need to look out for one another. Here are some benefits to think of when considering your drink.