Most of us go through day-to-day life at the speed of light. We take the time to make sure we do our secular work to the fullest, house work, taking care of loved ones, but what are we doing for self. We don’t realize the importance of self-care until we are worn down, tired, or sick. It took for me to be diagnosed with fibroids and having a miscarriage for me to realize that I was not taking enough time out for self.

“I have come to believe that caring for myself is not self-indulgent. It is an act of self-preservation.” – Audre Lorde

Self care goes beyond the few minutes we take to get a bath and watch tv when we are done for the day. It goes much deeper than that. Taking time out to care for self means doing so in mind, body, and spirit. Below are some of the things that I have started doing to care for myself.

Meditation –  helps me to look within to see if I like who I am at moment and who I am becoming.

Yoga and Exercise – helps me to be mentally and physically strong. This also keeps me grounded

Spa days or a Spa day at home – This is time I take out groom and take extra care of my hair and body. Our hair is our crown and our bodies are our temples.

Taking a vacation or mental health day – I realized that I worked for long periods of time and would only take one 1 week of vacation a year. Showing  me I was all work and no play.

Self care is not limited to the things I have listed above. Choose the things that refresh  you whether it’s in the realm of health or relaxation. Your body will tell you what you need. You may feel that self-care is a luxury but doing something for self daily doesn’t take much money. It only really takes commitment to yourself to carve out the time to do it. In doing so you are not only improving your quality of life but it also improves the life of those you love and care about everyday by providing the best version of you.

Be kind to yourself.