indulging in...wait, wut.😕❓

I've seen it; in myself, and all over pop culture. Whether it's calling an evening off, "being lazy" or calling your self-care acts a "treat". Whether it's, "Oh, I'm spoiling myself today." or, "I'm so done adulting right now, I need some Me Time." Mixing the idea of self-love with the language of indulgence or running away from responsibility reveals this:

We don't understand how *essential* it is to take care of ourselves.

Our culture would have us believe that taking care of ourselves is OTT--it's selfish, it's escapism, it's irresponsible, it's a luxury. Our culture values *doing*, not *being*, and that's where this language comes from. Tying self-care to Capitalism and Co-dependency has some tragic consequences, like resentment for the "responsible", "adulting" parts of your life, or feelings of guilt when you "indulge" in a bit of "laziness". It also implies that people with financial challenges don't deserve self-care, and that absolutely no one deserves it until they are done meeting the needs of everyone else. Yipes.

Self-care is not an option--it's our first responsibility. It's not extra, it's not a luxury. It's not a reward we get for working til we drop, or a prize at the end of the day for pleasing our families, bosses, or partners--with an hour to spare! It is absolutely necessary for a healthy, balanced life.

Placing self-care on the, "Maybe when I'm done with everything else" list can ultimately have severe consequences for our health, our jobs, our families, and our futures. When we use up our energy without recharging ourselves, we do things like develop chronic & stress-related illnesses, suffer Burn Out at work, become short-tempered and forgetful, and become unable to appreciate the people and things in life that we love.

So be careful how you talk about your self-nurturing. Because self-care habits are essential to our well-being; and they deserve to be valued as such. When it comes to your priorities, remember: don't treat your self-love and care like a piece of candy you sneak when no one is looking. It is just as important as every other major responsibility in your life--if not more so. It is a precious and essential part of your life, not “being lazy”, and definitely not a luxury. <3

****************** This is what works for me. #imaketherules

It might not be what's best for you. #makeyourownrules #thinkforyourself