It sounds like self-care is at the center of all talks in 2018. I have read a lot of posts from bloggers who decided that this year would be their year and that they will devote more time to themselves. I do think it is great. There have been many talks about mental health, how it is perceived and how to improve your own. Focusing on self-care certainly is a way to improve one’s mental and general health.
Does self-care has an actual definition though?
According to the Oxford Dictionary, self-care is
“The practice of taking action to preserve or improve one’s own health.”
or
“The practice of taking an active role in protecting one’s own well-being and happiness, in particular during periods of stress.”
I feel like this definition is incredibly generic but at the same time very restrictive. So far, all the posts I have read focused on self-care as taking time for oneself, time to reflect, relax, separate professional and personal lives, do not let work takeover, etc. This is where I think it is restrictive.
I few weeks ago, I wrote a 24 hours in my life post where I described a typical day of mine. My days are very busy yet neither stressful nor exhausting. My work day does not finish when I leave my 9 to 5 job because I also work both as a freelancer and a blogger part-time. Most of the comments were super positive and the post got great reactions. Yet, some people judged and expressed their concern over me, my focus on work and my devotion to self-care. They talked without knowing.
I genuinely love my job. Everything I am doing, I do it because I love it. I wake up in the morning super excited to go to the office, the day goes by in a finger snap and I get home as happy as I was in the morning. My days are very long and sometimes I am exhausted but it does not mean I don’t enjoy what I am doing. And if practicing self-care includes protecting my happiness and improving my health, then being in a job I love is practicing self-care.
How I practice self-care is not as the definition is mostly interpreted but it does not mean it is not self-care. Everyone has their own definition and way of practicing self-care and preserving their happiness and health. So restrain yourself from judging or giving unsolicited opinions. I am genuinely happy at the moment with every aspect of my life. If I no longer am, then I will take action to protect my happiness.
Protecting your happiness and health is self-care, no matter in what way you do it. Focusing on your career included.
Coat – Precis (on sale)
Jumper – Missy Empire
Skirt – New Look (Old collection)
Boots – JustFab
Cross-body bag – TOBI
Tights – Primark
I hope I am not offending anyone here. The point of this post was just to express my views on self-care and that the definition should be larger to accept different ways of practicing it. You are of course allowed to disagree with me.
What it your definition of self-care? Do you even have one? Did you decide to focus on that this year? Did you see it in that sense too? Including anything that makes you happy no matter what it is? Feel free to express your view on the topic, I am really curious to know what you think and understand more about self-care too.
I hope you liked this post. Thanks for reading.
See you soon,
Love,
Corinne
I agree that people are far too quick to judge and like you said everyone’s definitions of self-care is different so why should we be entitled to say that someone elses’s version of self care is wrong. I had the same as you, people would tell me ‘why do you work such long hours’ or if you don’t stop you are going to have a mental breakdown. Thing is when you work long hours in something that you enjoy that is self-care because you are putting your happiness first. I was in a job that I hated so I made the decision to quit and do my own thing because ultimately that made me happy. xx
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