What Does It Mean To “Make Space” For Self-Care?

What Does It Mean To “Make Space” For Self-Care?

Self-care has gone from a tight corner of the personal growth section of the bookstore to an internet-fueled sensation. 

If you have an interest in wellness and spend any time on Instagram, you’ve probably been bombarded with messages about self-care that all look pretty similar: intricate yoga postures and green juices and 20-step nighttime routines that might seem, for many of us, a little stressful. Sometimes, this messaging can make self-care look like a full-time job (and keep in mind that, for many of these influencers, it is!).

To some, self-care just comes naturally. These people know what their minds and bodies need to relax, to unwind, and to unpack after a day spent working and interacting with others. But that isn’t the case for everyone, and that is okay! While social media might make it appear that everyone has their personalized self-care routine dialed in, many people struggle with what self-care looks and feels like to them. 

This article is all about the idea of “making space” for self-care and mental health. What making space means, how that can look, and a few ways you can integrate it into your life.

What is Self-Care?

If you want to dig into exactly what self-care is and how it relates to stress, we’ve got a whole article for you to get started. If this is the case, give it a read and come right on back. 

For a quick overview, self-care is anything we do to nourish ourselves, which is especially important when we feel overwhelmed and burnt out by the stresses of our day-to-day lives. Self-care looks different for everyone. For some it’s all about bubble baths and facemasks, for others it’s about carving out time to make a great cup of coffee in the morning and enjoy it on the porch. It might be an intense workout or a midday nap, taking yourself out to a movie, or staying in to read a book. 

What does it Mean to Make Space for Self-Care?

“Making space” for self-care means intentionally creating time in your day to focus on recharging and prioritizing yourself. Most of our days are spent catering to the needs of others, whether it be your job, your children, even the hobbies that you do for fun. At first, “making space” might feel foreign and unfamiliar to you, but it’s a great practice to get into because in order to serve others, you must first serve yourself. First and foremost, you must figure out what self-care space looks like for you. 

In order to figure that out, it’s going to take some introspection. We recommend grabbing some pen and paper and taking the time to flesh out your feelings about what self-care means to you. Here are a few helpful prompts to get you started:

When do you feel the most at ease?

When it comes to nailing down your personal self-care preferences, assessing when you feel the most comfortable and relaxed is a great starting point. Do you feel the most relaxed on the couch watching your favorite sport? Laying on the beach? Getting a massage? This is useful insight to better understand yourself. 

What activities energize you?

Self-care is about more than resting—for some, stereotypical forms of rest have the opposite effect. You might find that the things that nourish you most require some effort. Whether that’s going for a run, cooking a laborious (and very worth it) meal, seeing your therapist, or playing fetch with your dog in the park, asking yourself what activities energize you is an important component to self-care. 

What stresses you out? Where is this stress most/least present in your life? 

If you’re having a tough time with this one, ask yourself what stresses you out the most and then look for the opposite of it. For example, if going through your emails at work is the most stressful thing you can think of, maybe doing an outdoor activity where you can’t even think about it is your form of self-care. 

Once you’ve figured out what form of self-care best serves you, it’s time to make space for it. 

How to Make Space for Self-Care

Now that we know what self-care is, what it means to make space for it, why self-care is important for mental health, and how you can identify ways to perform self-care, it’s time to actually make space for it. 

We tend to push self-care aside for a few reasons. We often think we’re too busy to prioritize it, and that if we do prioritize self-care, we won’t have time to deal with the things that are stressing us out and forcing us to look into self-care in the first place. Self-care is a way to calm the mind and create a more stable headspace to tackle our to-do’s. Rather than further complicating your schedule, self-care time might actually create more space in your day because your mind will feel less foggy and can tackle tasks more efficiently. 

We call it “making space” because you have to make it; rarely does a time come when we feel like we deserve to step back and care for ourselves. The best way to make space for self-care is by building it into your schedule. Whether you have an alarm set a few evenings a week to remind you to meditate or you incorporate tactics like habit stacking to stay on track and make self-care a consistent part of your life, if there’s a will to do self-care, there’s a way. The key is to look at self-care as a positive thing that you deserve rather than a chore that you have to do. 

We at Chuze hope to serve as a resource for your self-care journey. We have plenty of articles about fitness and wellness on our blog; lessons and classes with our virtual membership (click here for a free trial); and plenty of gym locations for you to choose from! Visit us today for a boost in your self-care journey.

The post What Does It Mean To “Make Space” For Self-Care? appeared first on Chuze Fitness.

Dear Moms, Your Self-Care is Paramount.

Dear Moms, Your Self-Care is Paramount.

As we enter Self-Care September 2021, it’s imperative to be reminded of the importance of putting our mental, emotional and physical care first. We all know the expression we hear on planes prior to taking off, “Put your oxygen mask on first before assisting others.” Why? Simply put, if you aren’t taking care of yourself, your ability to care for or even support others will be compromised. Moms, I’m talking to you…your self-care is necessary in the journey you have in raising your children. Moms notoriously put themselves at the bottom of the priority list (or very near the bottom). While taking care of others first may seem like the noble and right thing to do, it doesn’t serve you (or your kids) in the long run. Here are a few things to keep in mind as we commit to ourselves this Self-Care September as moms:

Your Wellbeing Serves Those Around You. 

We all know that when we feel strong, confident, capable, and healthy, we rise to whatever occasion we are presented with. With a positive and “fed” disposition, the challenges all around us feel more achievable. Our strength allows for better patience and perspective. We show up better for others. Moms, think of it as an act of love for your children to take care of yourself for them. Your physical, mental, and emotional health is a gift to you, your children, and the communities around you.

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Be The Example. 

Moms, your children look to you as their teacher, their example of what and how things are done—whether you realize it or not, they are usually watching. When you constantly put yourself last, when you diminish your needs or your health, they see it. Oftentimes, moms have the mindset that if our actions directly affect our kids, we put a higher priority on them. Think about the role-modeling you are doing for your kids to one day put themselves first in their own lives. I imagine it might break your heart to picture your kids putting themselves at the bottom of their own life priorities. Our demonstration of self-love and self-care gives them permission or inspiration to do the same in their lives.

Commit to Small Acts of Daily Self-Care. 

We know that success begets success. When we feel successful immediately when performing an act, that confirmation or internal celebration often leads to future commitment or repetition. Find small ways to care for yourself (occasionally with your kids witnessing it) that you know you will repeat. Maybe it’s a 5-10 minute walk outside, 1 minute with your face in the sunshine, 30 seconds of deep breaths, dancing in your living room to your favorite song, a quick phone call with a best friend or family member, or a quick workout to energize your body.

Try A Prenatal Workout On iChuze:

Two iChuze Fitness coaches doing a prenatal workout on our virtual fitness platform

Moms, Your Self-Care Is Not Just Important, It’s Vital. 

You do so much for so many, and your overall well-being is mission-critical to those you love and who love you!

Remember, self-care is everywhere.

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