by Leanne Soulard
August 31st, 2020

Many people, especially young people, are uneasy with the concept of slowing down to take care of themselves. The term “self-care” is more popular than ever but it is often misconstrued as a selfish act or, even worse, active disregard for others and their needs. On the contrary, regular self-care gives us permission to pause our busy lives and reflect on what we’re feeling physically and emotionally. The human body possesses unrivaled native intelligence and if we take a moment to really listen, it will tell us exactly what we need to nurture ourselves at any given moment.

When we use the term self-care we are referring to any activity we deliberately engage in to take care of our physical, mental, and emotional health. It seems like a simple concept but many people have trouble putting themselves first. With the new school year upon us, now is the time to consider how you will create opportunities for some TLC on those super busy days. Self-care isn’t a selfish act; in fact, it’s one of the most caring things you can do for yourself and others. When we are properly rested and nourished we show the world the best versions of ourselves and everything seems possible. School feels like less of a grind, extracurricular commitments feel less burdensome, and people who tend to annoy us seem, well, less annoying. So, as you prepare for your last fall as a high school student, we’d like to offer some self-care suggestions that might come in handy even when you think you’re too busy to take a break:

1. Set a timer for an hour and listen to your favorite music, watch your favorite television show, or read a book.
2. Go for a walk or a run. Do yoga. Shoot hoops in your yard. Just move.
   Make a bucket list.
3. Write a letter to your future self.
4. Dance like nobody is watching. Alternatively, sing like nobody is listening.
   Play with your pet.
5. Take a nap. Or a shower. Or a bath.
6. Watch funny cat videos on YouTube. Even better, watch baby goat videos on YouTube.
7. Indulge in your favorite dessert for no reason.
8. Unplug from technology altogether for an hour. You knew it was coming.

Click here for our downloadable Self-care Check-in list!