Self-Care Baby Steps

Are you sick of hearing about self-care? I see numerous reminders from various places to "up your self-care." For some of us, the idea of self-care seems allusive, which likely means we need that much more of it. 

Ever hear the Zen proverb that if you don't have time to meditate one hour every day, then meditate two hours? It's a similar concept that when we have a hard time wanting to "do self-care," we need it even more than we usually do. 

But here's the thing. Self-care means different things for different people at different times in our lives. If depression is tugging on you, self-care could mean taking a shower or brushing your teeth or eating regular meals and snacks. It doesn't have to mean getting a massage (if we could get one right now) or going to a yoga class (which you could do now, it would just be online). 

I've adopted this idea recently, as I am struggling to squeeze in my self-care, too. I have this new idea to do something for ten minutes. Get outside for ten minutes. Do something creative for ten minutes. Color a mandala for ten minutes. Read a book for ten minutes. I'm sure you get the idea. I figure I can negotiate with my brain to do something for ten minutes. 

I'd love to hear some of your thoughts about something you could do for ten minutes. If that seems like too much, here are some other things that I thought of that take minimal effort and time….if you are feeling in a bit more of a funk and can't even negotiate the ten minutes.

• Open the windows (if your weather allows)
• Drink water (or whatever beverage) out of a fun or fancy glass
• Look for a quote that speaks to you (on social media or online)—write it down or take a picture of it
• Sit on the floor (this works best if you usually are not on the floor)
• Text a friend
• Look for something good that might be coming out of this
• Take three deep breaths in and blow it out with a "Shh" sound
• Pick a place you want to visit in a year or two or three