Self-Care is not a reward. We tend to use self-care as a reward for good behavior or for accomplishing a goal, but that needs to stop.
We also sometimes withhold self-care as a punishment, which is also a massive problem.
Let’s get clear on one thing:
Self-care is a basic human right. You deserve to take good care of yourself just for the simple act of existing.
When you don’t take care of yourself, you suffer.
Your health, your happiness, and your relationships all start to go downhill when you aren’t taking good care of yourself.
And what is self-care, from the most basic definition?
Self-care is listening to your body, your mind, and your heart AND then choosing to act on what your body, mind, and heart are asking of you.
Taking care of yourself is an act of self-preservation.
Self-care is a necessity, not a luxury.
And the fact that you tend to view self-care as a luxury is part of the problem. More often than not, self-care is small and simple and still makes a significant impact. Sometimes this small and simple self-care is almost boring, it’s so ingrained in your daily routines. And yet without it, you feel a little less balanced. Maybe a little less yourself.
Self-care is not something you reward yourself with because it’s something you simply deserve.
Everyone deserves to feel healthy and happy and more like themselves, right?
This is also why withholding self-care as a punishment isn’t a great idea, either.
So you yelled at your kids because you had a long, hard day, too and reacted before you had a chance to think better of it? Shame on you. You don’t deserve to go to your yoga class tonight.
Did you forget to send your kid in with their overdo library book today? Bad mom alert. You shouldn’t take a little extra time to read your book this morning after breakfast.
I know these might sound ridiculous, but I bet you can think of an example of withholding something from yourself as a direct result of doing something “bad.”
Your health and wellness are not things that should be treated like a reward or a punishment.
Instead, I think the question is, “how can I learn to prioritize my self-care so that my health and wellness become a reflection of how I take care of myself?”
The more you see self-care as something special and out of the ordinary, the less likely you are to do some of the basics of self-care for yourself every day. Or to even recognize those small, simple acts as significant self-care.
And the more you bypass your basic self-care needs, the more out of reach your healthiest self becomes.
Self-care is not a reward for your good behavior. Self-care is combination of essential acts you should take every day so that you feel healthier, happier, and more like version of yourself you most want to be.
So let’s stop using self-care as the pot of gold waiting for you at the end of the rainbow. Why not make it the rainbow, instead?
Want to learn how to incorporate simple self-care practices into your everyday to make a more significant impact? Join me for my FREE 5-Day Self-Care Reset.
We begin on May 19th. Save your spot right here.
