I struggle with the term “self-care.” What does it mean? How is it defined? How do we find the time? Does it really involve expensive supplements, hours at the gym, salt baths, crystals, and perfectly manicured nails? Without these answers, many of us, myself included, struggle to prioritize appropriate care for ourselves.
When we attend to and honor our needs physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually — a.k.a. self-care — it’s unsurprising that everything in life flows better. But when we ignore our needs in any or all of those areas, life can unravel rather quickly. Throughout my 20’s and 30’s, I’ve had seasons when self-care was a regular part of my daily life and times when I’ve let a lot of things slide. Because of my undulating personal experience, I’ve dedicated a lot of energy to defining what self-care really means, developing the actions, behaviors, and habits that are necessary for wellbeing, and avoiding wellness-veiled self-care consumerism.
A few months ago my friend Courtney Carver invited me to teach the self-care month of her A Simple Year program in 2019. Courtney created A Simple Year to help participants simplify their lives gently and with purpose over a 12-month period. If you’ve been curious about simple living and the myriad benefits, but are unsure of where or how to start, participating in this program will help.
During A Simple Year, you’ll get to learn from me about what caring for yourself really looks like and develop a self-care strategy of your own. You’ll also learn from eleven other simplicity experts in the fields of food, relationships, money, clutter, family, nature, travel, and more. Early registration for 2019 is now open and runs until November 14th.