“Take care of yourself.” We often hear this phrase, but don’t we have a little trouble putting it (really) into practice? Here are some tips to reconnect with yourself.
In the mini-series La meilleure version de soi-même on Canal+, comedian Blanche Gardin democratizes Self-care without knowing it. In an ironic and sarcastic way (of course), the actress goes around naturopaths, shamans and other magnetizers to solve her stomach aches once and for all. We laugh a lot at her, but also at ourselves through her.
More seriously, the Self-care trend means "taking care of yourself" in a very global way: on a physical, mental and emotional level. Some stars, like the American actress Gwyneth Paltrow and her Goop site, or Estelle Lefébure with her Orahe method, highlight this new way of looking at life:eating better , breathing better , sleeping better . We have talked a lot about Self-care with the various lockdowns, and this trend will undoubtedly continue.
Is self-care really for me?
If you sometimes feel overwhelmed by your emotions, overwhelmed or even on the verge of burnout (professional, personal, maternal, romantic), yes it is high time to refocus on your needs. Your needs are the basis of everything. When they are satisfied, everything goes well. Otherwise, it is the door open to unhappiness, sadness, or even depression. The thing is that since we were little, we were told that others would be there to satisfy our needs (the story of Prince Charming ...) and not necessarily taught to listen to our own. Why? Because it is selfish to take care of yourself. Fortunately, the new theories of personal development say it: the better you are (in your head, in your shoes, in your body) the more you are available for others. So, we say yes and three times yes to self-care!
In practice, what is self-care?
Becoming a self-care enthusiast means making a pact with yourself. Yes, I promise to do everything in my power to take care of myself, make good decisions, and work day after day to improve myself. So, are you ready for the adventure? Self-care offers a holistic vision of well-being. Taking care of yourself as a whole means taking care of yourselfphysically , mentally , morally . Here are some ideas to follow, but the list is not exhaustive!
- First thing to do: remove (or limit) the parasites from your life. Cigarettes for smokers, alcohol for addicts, but also sugar, etc. What is valid forthe inside of your body is also valid for the outside . In short, say bye-bye to toxic relationships that pollute, friendships that weigh down and love affairs that bring no real affection. Clear the air around you.
- Don't hesitate to keep a logbook to take stock of your progress, your long-term goals or your current emotions.
- If necessary, start therapy to put some order into your life, understand the unconscious “pattern repetitions”, analyze the fears that paralyze and prevent you from moving forward.
- Give yourself a few minutes to breathe, to meditate, to navel-gaze. Is everything “okay” for you right now? If the answer is yes, keep going. If not, sit down and think about what you can change in your life to feel better.
- Schedule a family spa time! Manicure, pedicure, scrub, massage... taking care of yourself also involves body care. To renew your skin, we recommend brushing your body (dry skin) before getting in the shower. In your self-care routine, you can also try new cosmetic concepts: double makeup removal, night detox masks, oil serums, Gua Sha treatments. If you live with your daughter(s), organize a self-care session together! If you are the only girl in the house, don't forget to take care of yourself, and even introduce the boys (long bath with scented candle, self-massage of the body , face , scalp, etc.). They too must know how to allow themselves moments of rest.
- Unlock your body. Self-care also involves taking (back) control of your body. Athletes, continue your routine. Non-athletes, it's time to create one. No need to run the New York marathon. Simply integrate a few gentle exercise sessions into the week or weekend: stretching, yoga , brisk walking. Anything goes to get your body moving again. As long as you focus on regularity. It's better to do three fifteen-minute sessions per week, every week, rather than an hour and a half once a month.
- Are you more of an artistic team than a sports team? At this point, let your creativity express itself: drawing, scrapbooking, knitting, crocheting, puzzles. Anything goes to boost your artistic soul .
- Cook for yourself! From meal prep (organizing meals over several days) to healthy lunch boxes, take time to cook. Selecting the right foods, looking for the right recipes , creating flavor combinations, cooking is a simple and effective way to take care of yourself.
A word of advice: if you are alone, pay special attention to the presentation of your plate and your table. Take advantage of your meals to give yourself a moment of peace, without television or telephone, by eating mindfully.
- Find the perfect balance: analyze what is going well and what is not going well in your life, decide to act and change everything that can be changed. Self-care is the art of adjusting to constraints as best as possible. It is trying to do everything to feel better and be better.
Self-care is also the art of chilling
In our ministerial schedules, we ultimately have very little time for ourselves (when was your last spa trip?) and even less time to do nothing. Chill, for young people, is this "ability to be there, calm" without doing anything else. Give yourself some moments of pause to listen to your favorite playlist, read a book in one go, watch a TV series ... without doing anything else. When you have reached level 2 of Chill, you will be able to sit on the sofa without thinking about the machine running! The secret of self-care? Learn to slow down. So you can definitely run yourself a bath, hang out in bed, live in your pajamas for a weekend or go for a walk in nature and contemplate the beauty before your eyes. Being in self-care means finding what intrinsically makes you feel good and brings you peace.
Self-care also concerns one’s “home”
It is well known that when you are happy in your head, you are happy at home too… So (re)discover the art of Feng Shui and ensure the harmony of your home. Maybe it is time to do a big sort out to declutter and lighten your mind? It may also be the right time to bring some Hygge into your life. Hygge (pronounced heu-geu) is Danish well-being. It is very cold outside and Scandinavian interiors are ultra-warm, with soft and enveloping materials, to bring a feeling of comfort and security. You are peaceful in "your" interior, safe, in the full present moment. It is a state of mind. You must learn to savor simple pleasures: lighting a candle, wrapping yourself in a blanket, contemplating your tidy interior, savoring a hot chocolate. A cocooning moment that we also like to share with the people who are dear to you. Comfort, conviviality, softness, these are the rules of well-being. To read: The Book of Lagom by Anne Thoumieux and The Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking , First Editions.
Self-care is also the art of loving yourself
What is self-care for? To take care of yourself on all levels, but also and above all, to learn to love yourself in your entirety.
Self-care is putting yourself first in front of others, it is boosting your self-esteem, it is looking at yourself with kindness, with a lot of indulgence. The important thing is to think about it, then to start doing it and finally to stick to it. You can't switch from one state of mind to another overnight! Self-care is above all finding your own path, a way of taking care of yourself without copying others (and even less the self-care of Instagram stories). Self-care is like happiness, living hidden to live happily.
In times of crisis like the one we are currently experiencing - with its share of uncertainties - it is particularly important to take care of yourself. Self-care still has a bright future ahead of it.
