Self-care. Love or hate the phrase, it’s pretty much impossible to avoid at the moment. Personally there are some days I don’t mind it, and other days when it really makes me groan. I’m not sure why to be honest.
However, I belong to a number of social media groups around being a freelancer. One of those groups is having a themed month around self-care, so to join in, I’ve been reflecting on “What self-care means for me?”
Many of the suggestions you usually find in articles about self-care (journaling, long baths, meditation etc) don’t really do it for me I’m afraid, but alongside some very practical things like keeping on track with health checks of all sorts, and trying to find some space in every day where I am alone and there is NO NOISE, I have realised that being able to finish things is a form of self-care for me.
I have SOOOOO many things that are half-started. This is not surprising in the work context and absolutely fine unless I’ve said “yes” to too many things. But it’s more about the rest of life. I’ve got several books that I am part way through (shudder), we’ve got doors that have had one coat of paint on for months but need two to be finished, and almost everything I sit down to do at the weekend gets interrupted. I love my family but they aren’t always good at recognising when I am in the middle of something, even if it’s cleaning a particular room.
If I’m really going to practice self-care, I am going to need to finish some of these things. Now if everyone could just go away for a bit then that would be great. (Or more likely I’ll realise it’s not them stopping me finishing things, it’s me – but at least I would know that!)
Wish me luck!
Ellie Highwood - Leadership, Career and Personal Development Coach 