Space and making self-care simple

At the beginning of winter I set the intention to create opportunities to enjoy it. May sound silly to some but I am my most happiest, carefree self when I am barefoot, without a trace of make-up at the beach with sand in my hair. Summer is a time of the year where I have space. To be with friends and family, travel, discover, set new goals and live. Winter for me represents hustle, the brunt of university, exams, rainy weekends and soup. For some this sounds fantastic but for me the layers of grey I plaster myself in and permanent yearning to go outside are not pleasant. Anyway back to the point. This winter I wanted to create ooportunities to enjoy it. To facilitate new ways of self-care. At first I though this would mean rainy days watching movies in bed, dark nights at yin yoga and hot chocolate dates.

The reality of what I learnt about self care this winter was not these things. It was not elaborate skin routines or meditation. I learnt to create space in my week where I switched off my phone, had no one to answer to or for and just be present. to allow my emotions (good or bad), self-doubts, troubles and triumphs to be present, be reflected upon and be safe. I set out to go for a walk on the mornings I had a late start to the beach and back. On the fist day I stepped out of my flat and started walking. I felt a wave of emotion. Anger, anxiety, sadness. For those two hours I was present with it. Thought about it, listened to music, drank a cup of coffee and put my feet in the icy cold water (LOL gave myself a cold) of the beach, I was me and allowed myself to show up for myself. Those two hours and the mornings that have followed have changed my perception on self-care and my ability to look after myself.

The lesson I hope you get from this is that self-care is so much more than a face-mask and cup of tea. Its creating time for yourslef to process, strategise and reflect. To refill your cup and take a step away from what everybody needs from you and start tuning into what you need from yourslef to be the best version of you possiable.

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