Self-care: What it Is. What it Ain’t.

“Put your hands up! Drop the credit cards! Step away from your online cart”

According to Oxford Languages, self-care is “the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one's own health,” or “the practice of taking an active role in protecting one's own well-being and happiness, especially during periods of stress.”

But that’s not enough for us…

To maximize our health and well-being, we have to treat self-care holistically. Ignoring that all parts of us are connected is working against our goal, caring for ourselves. Holistic self-care rests on these 7 core principles -petals if you will:

Emotional/Mental – Tending to your thoughts, feelings, and inner peace

Environmental – Creating order, beauty, and serenity in your physical spaces.

Financial – Respecting your money, planning for your future, and claiming your worth.

Physical – Honoring your body with rest, movement, and nourishment.

Professional – Feeding your growth, purpose, and sharpness.

Social – Nurturing the people, boundaries, and community that sustain you.

Spiritual – Rooting yourself in divinity, direction, and depth.

Because each of us is a flower in this Boquet, let’s make sure we all bloom. You don’t want to be the wilted one in the bunch.

You are not spinach!

Now, I know we live in a “treat yo self,” “you deserve it,” and “another one” kinda world. And sure, there’s a place for that, maybe in moderation. 

But if you don’t have a savings account and you just bought a pair of kicks, a skein of yarn, a plant, or yes, chocolate (I’m an opp, I know) you’re not really taking care of yourself.

Self-care isn’t overindulgence, ignoring bills, or hiding from loved ones when it gets heavy. 

I see you. 

Self-care is hard work — especially for us.

But we do it anyway

Together.

. . .

Okay. Phew. Was that too much? 

What questions do you have? 

Send me a message and let me know. 

In the meantime, get your journal and reflect on this:

*What petal is my strongest?

*What petal needs more attention

*What would life look like if I actively cared for my whole self?

*How does my self-care help my community?

*What’s one thing I can do today to care for myself?