How a Daily Self-Care Practice Saved Me
Laurie Moser . Published May 2, 2023
My self-care practice saved me from falling apart, during one of the most stressful times of my life. I also learned how to have compassion for myself during a very difficult time.
My daughter was going through some severe mental health challenges at the time and I did not know how to help or support her. This left me feeling completely hopeless, alone, scared, frustrated, exhausted, angry and overwhelmed. I knew that if I kept going on like this, not prioritizing my own self-care, I was going to burn out and break down.
I started implementing a daily morning routine. It started really simple at first. I just started with journaling. I loved journaling. Journaling helped with getting those negative thoughts out of my head. It gave me a place to release all those negative emotions and feelings that I didn’t want or felt that I couldn't share at that time with others.
I started adding onto my morning self-care routine. I started with movement next. Waking up and starting my day with movement was an immediate change of state for my mind. Even though the waking up part was not fun, the feeling of moving my body was amazing! I have never regretted a workout that I did. If I need to modify, I do something more gentle for my body, such as yoga or stretching.
My daily self-care routine became a weekday morning ritual of movement, journaling, reading, meditation and a few minutes of simple focused breathing exercises. This now takes me 1 hour. I started out with just 1 thing for 5 minutes a day. Once I felt the benefits, I added more.
On the weekends now, I still incorporate movement, journaling, reading and meditation but it is modified to flow with my weekends. I wake up later and the days are not as scheduled. While I love this break and enjoy freedom and unstructured time, I also realize how important having my weekday morning routine is for me.
I still don’t enjoy waking up at 5:15 am during the weekdays and I probably never will but I love starting my day this way. I look forward to my morning routine. When I come down the stairs to get the kids ready for school at 7am, I already feel like I have accomplished so much. It is such an amazing way to start my day. Whatever challenges, issues and unexpected stuff happens during the day, like it always does, I am able to handle it so much better now.
Having a self-care practice allowed me to prioritize my own health. I finally realized that old cliche saying about putting on your own oxygen mask first. I know from first hand experience that if you don’t look after yourself, you will burn out, get sick, feel exhausted and overwhelmed. Not only will you need help to look after yourself at that point, you will not be able to be there for your loved ones that need you the most.
Some great side effects of prioritizing your own self-care, you not only feel better mentally, physically and emotionally, you look healthier also! Stress is not a good look for any of us. Stress is a part of our daily lives and some stress is actually good. Not constant and chronic stress, which most of us have. You need to have tools to help you manage and deal with stress. A self-care practice is one of the best ways to do this.
If you are like me and have a family to look after, especially if that involves a child with challenging needs or mental health issues, please prioritize your own self-care. It is not selfish, it is called self-care for a reason. You deserve to be cared for, you need to be cared for. You will be a better person and parent when your cup is full or at least not empty!
I know it’s hard to find time for self-care; that’s why I recommend scheduling just 5 minutes a day to start. Make it easy, start with one self-care tool and be consistent about it. Self-care literally saved me from falling apart and taught me the power of compassion for myself.
And it just might do the same for you.
Take one step today, for your self-care practice, YOU can do this!
