We live in a social media driven age. We get our news from other people’s timelines, or threads tailored especially to our interests. We have the luxury of retaking and editing pictures, videos, posts, all so that we can show the best versions of our selves. Even our self-care routines have become publicized. And often they are glamorized. Vibrantly hued baths and green drinks litter Instagram feeds touting tags like #selfcare, and #selflove. Decadent desserts and material objects are posted with #treatyoself, while everyone lounges on their perfectly tousled comforters in impossibly chic loungewear with messy hair that looks perfectly effortless.
I can criticize, because I have attempted to replicate probably 75% of these images and personas. I’m not ashamed, and I will continue to try and take those pictures.
But the fact of the matter is, while a beautiful rainbow bath, or a heavenly slice of chocolate cake may sometimes be just the things you need, they are not the only ways you need to practice self care.
From my own reading, and soul searching, I too am discovering what I’ll call simple self care (Also known as #boringselfcare). They’re often mundane tasks that you wouldn’t post about, but need to complete. The key is to remind yourself that they are important, and will ultimately alter the way you feel throughout your day. Simple tasks, like doing the dishes, putting away clean laundry, or cooking a meal can easily be overlooked as things you just have to do. But in their own way, they are steps to taking care of your mental, emotional, and physical health. Completing any task, no matter how small or mandatory, is a success. We should feel good that we came home from a long day, and still found the energy to cook a meal instead. Or that we did the dishes so that we wouldn’t have to do them another time when we would rather be resting. Or even just that we put the laundry away so that you don’t have to rummage through the basket to find your favorite shirt.
It all seems tedious, and like something that could be easily ignored under the guise of just being a laissez faire kind of person.
These organizational style tips might not work for every person, it’s true. Not everyone feels relief from packing a lunch ahead of time, and a ‘to-do’ list might not give you clarity or piece of mind. But you can’t really knock it until you try it right?
I’ve only just begun my own journey finding ways to take better care of myself. I’ve already found that some tasks I have already been doing subconsciously, and other tasks I really need to work hard at. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the events of the day, and ignore the important little housekeeping-esq tasks that I come home to. I don’t usually want to do them, even if when they’re done I feel so much better.
But it’s really time to make a change. One that will benefit me in the long run, and hopefully help me create healthier habits and ensure a healthier state of mind.
>>Special thanks to my dear friend Amelia S. for showing me @makedaisychains’s Instagram feed that inspired this post. Be sure to check her page out for neat drawings about #boringselfcare.
>>>What’s my favorite simple self care? Making my bed!
>>>>I love starting off my day having accomplished something, but mostly I love being able to come home having a freshly made bed to relax on, or curl up in!
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