Back to Basics: Self-care Non-negotiables
Modern society is fast-paced. It’s easy to become overwhelmed by daily chores and responsibilities. We are expected to work full time, maintain healthy friendships and relationships, care for family, enjoy hobbies, shop sustainably, cook healthy meals, exercise, sleep well, help in our community, keep up with life admin, pay bills on time… it’s never-ending. On top of this, the self-care we are advised to follow can make an equally long list. The foundation of good self-care starts with understanding that it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. It’s about prioritizing habits that nourish your mind and body. Acknowledging you can’t do them all and deciding which ones are non-negotiables for you.
What social media and society deem we should do for self-care:
Stay hydrated
Declutter/tidy/decorate our spaces
Get sunshine/go outdoors every day
Spend time with loved ones
Move your body
Journal
Read
Get 8+ hours sleep
Nourish your body with good foods
Spend time on a hobby
Switch off from social media
Hygiene/beauty (baths, nails etc)
And more.
Overwhelmed yet?
So this is why I encourage you to focus on just a few at a time. Your ‘non-negotiables’.
You can decide how many, it’s different for everyone and you might change how many to focus on during any given week. During lockdown I used a whiteboard to keep track of mine, and reviewed them each week.
My go-to basic non-negotiables were:
Brush my teeth twice a day
Get dressed
Eat three times a day
Go for a 10 minute walk
Journal once a day
I made a table/tick chart to cross off each one, daily, for the week. There’s plenty of other things I could have given myself to do as well… but that would have been unrealistic and increased my overwhelm, shame/guilt, and probably led to me doing none of them!
Through the years, I’ve discovered that if I stick to my basic non-negotiables, I’m more likely to feel mentally clear and energized, making it easier to incorporate additional self-care practices. But remember, it’s about starting small and making your routine realistic and personal to you.
Pick your most important one or two, then build up from there when you feel ready.
What are your self-care non-negotiables and how do you keep track of them?