Radical Self Care
Aging parents. Illness and death of loved ones. Anti-Asian hate.
These are just some of the issues I’ve been dealing with in recent years.
I have a phrase taped to my wall, courtesy of my therapist, that says,
“More Stress, More Rest.”
My therapist explained that when people have a lot of stress, the tendency is to power through the to-do list. (Yes, I’m guilty of that as well.)
Instead, she said, the opposite is true: we need more rest.
And so at this stage of my life, I prioritize self care.
What does that look like?
✅ Strong boundaries around work: I only accepting a small number of clients into my college admission consulting practice, so I can produce the best possible work for people.
✅ Movement: I exercise at least one hour a day, preferably outside with friends.
✅ Outsource: I leave my 5-year old in extended care until 5p almost every day, even when I don’t have client meetings or paid work to do. While I could theoretically pick her up earlier, she has more friends to play with and activities to stimulate her at aftercare.
✅ Block off time for rest: Weekends with young children are not restful, so I aim to take one weekday off per week to rest.
✅ Accountability: I regularly text “self care buddies” and ask them how they’re incorporating self care into their lives that day. This serves as both accountability and sharing best practices.
✅ Financial Investment: I’ve created a joy budget. I have a tendency to be overly frugal / minimalist, so I’m trying to force myself to spend money on items that will bring me joy, and not live the life of a complete ascetic.
As a working mothers of young children, so many of us spend much more time of time caring for others than ourselves.
For everyone’s sake, let's change the equation and take care of ourselves first.
How do you cope with stress? What are your favorite self care practices?
YOU’LL ALSO LOVE…
