Self-Care for Parents Is Giving the World the Best of You
Learn the Difference Between Self-Care and Selfishness + How to Stick to a Self-Care Routine
Written by Kabrena Williams, Wellness Consultant and Founder of Kb in Bloom
When you think of the last two-plus years, you might be reminded of how stressful things have been. The world hasn't been easy to navigate for most parents and there are plenty of distractions that have kept most of us developing a self-care ritual.
It can be difficult for parents to find the time and resources to practice self-care. Your attention is often focused on your child—making appointments, driving them to activities, helping with homework, and more.
“Taking care of yourself doesn’t mean me first, it means me too.”
Juggling parenting with work and other responsibilities can be a daunting task. Self-care can seem like a luxury when you are struggling to keep up with the demands of life.
But what if we told you that self-care is actually giving the world the best of you? It wasn't until I took a step back to analyze my own life and see that if I'm not at my best, then how can I possibly divide my attention to my loved ones?
This blog post will be touching on what self-care is, the difference between selfishness and self-care, and how to commit to self-care.
What Is Self-Care?
So, what is self-care? The definition of self-care has changed over the years. Depending on who you ask, the answer can be vastly different.
Truthfully speaking, the answer is in the name. Self-care is taking care of yourself. This can be done through activities, thoughts, and/or habits that you do on a regular basis.
On my blog, I write a lot about radical self-care and ways for women to make it simple because so many people have also made something that is so straight-to-the-point, complicated to understand, and do in practice.
Self-care has been a topic of discussion for years, but it seems to have taken on new meaning in recent times. With the stress of the world weighing heavily on our shoulders, more and more people are beginning to realize that self-care is not a luxury, but a necessity.
What Self-Care Is Not
Self-Care is not a one-time thing. Just because you had a relaxing bath doesn't mean your self-care journey is over. Self-care is something that you should be doing on a regular basis, not just when things get tough. There are simple practices that you can do for yourself on a daily basis that don't take too much time.
10 Simple Self-Care Practices from Kb In Bloom:
Set your wake up alarm to music or an instrumental that makes you happy.
Invest in lotion that moisturizes your skin all day.
Tend to a houseplant by dusting and watering it.
Commit to going outside for a set amount of minutes.
Smile at the next person who says hello to you.
Send voice notes to yourself reciting positive affirmations.
Download a meditation app.
Ignore calls from anyone that wrecks your nervous system.
Bake cookies at home from scratch.
Throw away any unnecessary mail that adds chaos to your home.
It also isn't a band-aid solution: When you're feeling overwhelmed, it can be tempting to numb out with Netflix or a bottle of wine, but these things only provide temporary relief. If you're looking for something that will make you feel better in the long run, self-care is what you need.
Last but not least, self-care is not selfish. Often confused with being viewed or described as selfish, committing to self-care is the first thing you should resort to. In order for you to operate in a stressful world, you need your own set of rituals and resources that you can depend on to help mitigate stress.
The Difference between Selfishness and Self-Care
Now that we know what self-care is, let's take a look at the difference between selfishness and self-care.
To put it plainly, selfishness is when someone is only looking out for their own interests. This can be at the expense of others or even to the detriment of themselves.
Self-care, on the other hand, is when someone is putting in the intentional effort to address their needs on the micro and macro level. It's ensuring that you get enough to eat, drinking enough water to make sure you are hydrated, scheduling appointments for yourself.
It's important to remember that self-care is not just about the physical body, but the mind and spirit as well. Addressing your emotional needs is just as important as meeting your physical needs.
How to Commit to Self-Care
Making the commitment to self-care can be daunting, but it doesn't have to be. Begin with addressing your necessities. When was the last time you cooked something delicious for yourself? When was the last time you read a book for pleasure?
The important thing is to find what works for you and to stick to it. This could mean setting aside time each day or week to do something that is just for you.
You might also want to create a self-care kit. This could be physical or digital, but the idea is to have a collection of things that help you relax and de-stress. This could include a yoga mat, essential oils, meditation apps, books, etc.
No matter how you decide to commit to self-care, just make sure that you are putting yourself first. The world will be there when you're done.
Self-Care Is What's Best For You
In the end, we have to remember that self-care is the best care and if we want to show up for the world and be our best selves, we have to commit to taking care of ourselves first.
So often, we are told that in order to achieve success or make an impact, we have to sacrifice our own happiness but that's a lie. I hope you enjoyed reading this and that it reminded you to keep things simple and impactful. Here's to self-care every single day!
Kabrena is the founder of Kb in Bloom. A go-to resource for black women who believe their self-care is non-negotiable. Kabrena enjoys the simplest things like riding her bike on a beautiful scenic trail, developing a new recipe, watering her houseplants, listening to artists on her record player, or writing a self-care resource to help her community on the blog. Go follow Kabrena on Instagram or Facebook for more self-care gems.
