Finally self-care is more than a buzzword. Bragging about how busy you are isn’t as admirable as it used to be. More people are starting to understand that it is vital to your health and well-being, and that matters.

But self-care is not really about spa days and a casual, relaxing lifestyle. To really engage in self-care, you need to be in tune with yourself and plug into what you need each day to maximize your wellbeing and gracefully withstand the inevitable setbacks life brings.

This includes knowing, for example, when you need to slow down instead of push through, when you’re hungry and need to eat healthy foods or a delicious piece of chocolate, when you need to deepen your time in spiritual development, when you need connection with a loved one, and when you need to engage in some other emotionally fulfilling activities. For me, right now, that means, in addition to my mindfulness practices, paying attention to my creative side with time in the glass art studio. You see, self-care isn’t really about indulgences, Self-care is about having a sufficient mind-body connection to hone in on what you need in the moment and how you can fulfill it in the context of your life. 

If you were to develop a self-care tookit, what would be in it? Would it be a creative outlet such as writing, drawing, painting, photography, glass art?  Or would self-care look like spending time with family and friends through meetups for coffee or tea, book clubs, bike rides or runs, or theatre? 

Self-care routines and rituals are important, but it’s important to keep in mind that the self-care you need on Tuesday may be different from what you need on Saturday. Meditation and mindfulness practices can help you strengthen your mind-body connection and discern what your true needs are and how they can best be met. Caring for yourself and making sure your physical, spiritual, and emotional needs are supported is as important as your professional, financial, and intellectual development.

If you were to develop a self-care tookit, what would be in it? Would it be prayer, meditation, mindful movement like qigong or yoga?  Would it be (or also be) spending time with family and friends through meetups for coffee or tea, book clubs, bike rides or runs, or theatre? Self-care is not selfish. Caring for yourself and making sure your physical, spiritual, and emotional needs are supported is as important as your professional, financial, and intellectual development. And knowing what refreshes and recharges is important to help prevent or respond to burnout and overwhelm.

To help you refresh and recharge, download these three free guided meditations.