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The act of creating just for yourself is a way to taking care of yourself, but I hope that in time it will expand into other areas of self-care, for you and for me.
In my world, where taking care of myself is not really a normal thing, self-care can be as simple as making a doctor’s appointment or taking myself to the library just to browse.
This past week I got some long-neglected bloodwork done (nothing serious, just cholesterol and stuff), which required me to skip breakfast with the family. So when I was done I went out for a bagel and coffee and sat at the shop and wrote a couple of pages in my notebook.
It’s such a little thing, but I hadn’t done it in a really long time and it was really nice. Just spending some time with myself in a different environment felt completely different from being alone all the time at home. It was like going on a date but I didn’t have to say a word.
Julia Cameron, in fact, would have called it an Artist Date, which she considers a weekly requirement for creatives.
I’m not going to say you need to make this sort of time for yourself weekly — though of course it would be great if you could — or that I will, either, though I’d like to. And it will look different each week.
Next time I may get a haircut or go to the eye doctor (I skipped last year). Or I may buy myself a cup of coffee and sit and read for half an hour.
The point, I think, is that adding creativity to your life feels good, and practiced regularly you’ll want to bring more goodness into your life. Simple acts of self-care can do that.
Maybe you don’t have the problem of neglecting yourself, but if you’re a mom, you probably do.
It doesn’t have to take a lot of time or money to do it, but it does take the effort of reminding yourself to do something for yourself and following through on it.
What do you need to do for yourself that you’ve been putting off? Or what little thing can you do for yourself that would make you smile? Make time to do it this week, then report back. I’d love to hear how you’re caring for yourself!
