Greetings UWCEA Community,
Take a breath. Look around, and take in the moment as we get underway in a new month.
We thought we were being creative when we decided to focus on self-care this month, only to discover that others were already promoting the importance of this concept during a month of great change (see this link for more information). Most people have heard of the term “self-care,” but some have a difficult time understanding why it is important. One reason is that it is seen by some as being selfish, however, the reality is that you cannot give what you do not have. When we take time to take care of ourselves, we are better prepared to accomplish tasks and work collaboratively with others. When our own needs are not met, then we can be more of a hindrance to others than a support.
What is self-care? It is unique to everyone, and starts with self-awareness in order to know what works best to recharge and rejuvenate yourself for whatever lies ahead. We used the metaphor of climbing a mountain in the last two Wellness Wednesday Weekly issues, and want you to continue to think about what you need to get up the mountains in your life. One way to do this is through a regular routine of self-checks where you take time to reflect on what you are experiencing, feeling, and how it is impacting you. Some people do this through journaling, and others do it through self-scans to take a moment to notice what is going on in their body and mind in order to determine any areas that they need to focus on. Self-awareness is an essential element of self-care, but if you do not know yourself, you do not know how to properly care for you. Taking time for yourself is the best way to become an expert in who you are, and what you need to create a healthy inner and outer life.
Create a Care Routine. You will see that the COVID-19 Counselor Resources has been updated with a link to a Self-Care September calendar. This is a reminder to make self-care a part of your daily routine. Whatever you need to do to carve out time and space for yourself this month, please make it a priority so that you can persevere over the long haul. Life continues to put challenges and obstacles in our path, but the more we focus on taking care of ourselves when times are good, we can be prepared to respond (and not just react) to the difficult times when they come our way. What are you going to do today to care for yourself?
