Selfcare is…

In this week’s newsletter, I wrote about walking, and humidity, and self care.

I hate the term self-care, not because it isn’t important, but because it’s been co-opted by the marketers and the capitalists. 

But walking – even when I have to do it at 6am to avoid heat stroke – is literally self-care for me. It’s the way I show myself I care about myself. It’s how I show myself the love and care I would show someone else I care about. 

And these days, that is one of my primary self-care goals: To treat myself the way I would treat somebody I love. 

Selfcare isn’t (just) spa days. It’s showering. Cooking yourself supper. Hanging pictures on your walls. Making sure your bedroom is conducive to sleep. Taking your full lunch hour.

Self care is really the sum of lots of tiny practices. If you are counting on grand gestures in order to catch up, you waited too late.

See also: Advice you will ignore