January is my month of Self-Care. I believe deeply in focusing outward towards others. I am a pastor after all, and in many ways loving others is the foundation of my faith and my being. The truth, however, is that you cannot care for others when you don’t feel cared for and healthy yourself. So, because I want to have more energy and joy tofocus on others, I dedicated an entire month to focusing on myself. Yet, because I am so focused on productivity all the time (there are gifts and difficulties of being a highly driven person…) I am struggling to really know what ‘counts’ as Self-Care and how to just relax into what my body and mind need this month.
The solution? I’ve decided to challenge myself and do so publicly. I have read lists and lists of great idea for practicing self-care and pretty much stopping there (other than some great guilt-free baking and one long bubble bath this week). So for the rest of this month (starting tonight) I want to take my favorite ideas from the Self-Care lists I’ve read, as well as a few of my own, compile them and challenge myself to practice one thing off the list each day. I will post each day my Self-Care Practice for the day (I’ll try to do so in the mornings) and my ‘master list’ at the end of the Month and I hope some of you will join me! Some days the practice will be decidedly simple and take almost no time at all (in fact, sometimes I want to just say ‘oh but I already do that’, but try doing whatever it is, however simple mindfully!) Feel free to 1) follow me and try doing the same or similar activities or 2) create your own Self-Care master list and do your own activities as befits your needs. I would love to see your Self-Care lists and will post my favorites on a permanent page at the end of the month. Let me know if you are joining me for the day or, if you are choosing a different activity, let us all know what it is so we can celebrate with you and be inspired!
SELF CARE Practice #1 (to do this evening): Snuggle under the covers and read a book that is fun for you for as long as you want to read! Ignore your to-do list for at least 2 hours. Ask your partner or a neighbor to watch the kids–or invite your partner and kids to read in bed too! Just read and get cozy under the covers. Feel the soft pillow under your head. If you want, make a tent like you did as a kid and read underneath the sheets. Set the lights just how you like them. Read slowly and savor the words. If you get sleepy while doing this, don’t fight it. Let yourself go wherever your book takes you…or your dreams!
