Many books and articles have complicated the subject of self-care. It is not rocket science. It basically means looking after yourself. One big problem is not recognising when we need to self-care and how to do it well. We need to take a distract-ground-recharge approach toward self-care. As I mentioned in ‘Burnout’ I couldn’t recognise when I was burnt out until it was too late. We don’t have to burn out to acknowledge we need self-care. It can be done every day.
Self-care can be small (watching ‘trash’ on TV) or it can be as big as taking a holiday. Whilst in recovery I learnt a great deal about self-care as there are entire books written on the subject. Many mental health books have lists of activities one could utilise to self-care. Some had anything from watching TV and listening to the radio to hiking or going to the beach.
It’s important that if you are feeling a little strung out to find that activity/hobby/task that grounds you and brings you back to your ‘centre’. For me, it is reading scripture and mindfulness. These are two things that ground and recharge me. For others, it might mean going for a run or walking, listening to music or even playing a video game. Some people like to use distraction as a form of self-care.
Self-care needs to distract, ground, and recharge us. There’s little point in binge watching your favourite TV show because you are using distraction only. We need distraction, but it is usually an initial response for me. For example, one instance I came home from work so exhausted that I had no energy for reading or meditation. So I watched TV, then I went out to the pub for dinner. The next day I could read (ground) and meditate (recharge) because I had the energy for these activities. It's important to note there is no correct order for distract, ground and recharge. Do what works for you, and give yourself the time you need to get back on your feet.
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