Why Self-Care?

It’s Friday, also known as my favorite day of the week!

If you follow me on Instagram (@iam.keyinspires), then you know Friday’s have become the day I intentionally take time to take care of ME.

If the pandemic taught me anything, it was the importance in taking some time to simply REST and pour into me what I pour out to others.

In case you haven’t figured it out, Fridays are what I now token as #SelfCareFriday.

Although we are 6 months into 2021, many of us are still referencing back to the revelations of 2020.

I don’t know about you but one of the most important things I learned in 2020 was that I was showing up for everything and everyone but myself.

I entered 2020 tired, lacking motivation, lacking passion, and I began to lose love for all the things that made me who I am.

Ironically enough, it all boiled down to my FAILURE to do for ME.

I was tired, but I kept going. I lost heart, but I kept going. I was unsure of my 'why' with many things, but I kept going.

I could feel myself fighting a losing battle, BUT I k-e-p-t going.

My ability to lean on God began to slightly diminish because in my determination to keep going, I was losing more and more of the person HE created me to be.

My ability to keep going is NOT what I want you to focus on here, as it is NOT something I am proud of.

Because the more I pushed to keep going, the more God began to strip away.

Then…BOOM…PANDEMIC…SHUT DOWN…ISOLATION…

I was forced to deal with me in a way that was unfamiliar to me before.

I found myself searching for who I once was and struggling.

You see, the thing is, I was searching for a person that was NO longer there.

I was fighting to hold on and God was pushing me to LET GO….to let go of what once was, my routine, my activities, and even the BOX I placed Him in.

This new space was foreign, I struggled.

However, it was in this place, I learned of God’s Sovereignty and it was in this place, I learned the importance of REST.

Pre-Pandemic, my schedule was filled with a full-time job, a part-time job, a business, a nonprofit, and several activities and responsibilities at church.

Pre-pandemic, I went to work, I went to church, and I went home.

That was my life.

Yes, I hung out with my friends. I would get my hair done. My nails done.

However, a lot of those things were ALMOST always done as a means of routine and NOT intentionality.

There’s a BIG difference but I’ll save that for another time.

My life pre-pandemic happened out of routine and obligation.

DURING the pandemic, I struggled. I felt it was important for me to repeat that.

It was in this struggle that I learned that it was okay to let go, to be unsure, and to give myself GRACE with figuring out this new way of life.

It was in that place of “figuring life out” that I began to check in with myself, my needs, my wants, and my desires.

It was in that place I discovered the importance of true #SelfCare not as a means of appearance but as a means of #SelfLove.

I learned that the more I loved on me, the more I refueled myself to pour out, love, and support others in a healthier manner.

It was also in that place where I decided that #SelfCareFriday would be a weekly thing, no matter how big or how small.

#SelfCareFriday began as a way for me to decompress everything that may have transpired that week.

It is my time to disengage, disconnect, and refuel.

Many assume that #SelfCare must be an expensive vacation, but #SelfCare is really anything that helps you recenter and refocus on Y-O-U.

#SelfCare can happen at ANY time or ANY day of the week that best works for you. It can be as inexpensive or expensive as you want it to be within YOUR BUDGET.

What’s important about #SelfCare is that you have undisturbed and undistracted time to SELF.

We only have one life to live so why not make sure we remain in our healthiest state to live it.

#SelfCare aids in the maintenance of your health and wellbeing AND it can help PREVENT BURNOUT.

So, here’s a list of various #SelfCare activities that you can implement on a weekly or daily basis as you see fit.

· Sleep · Sing / Dance · Listen to Music · Go Hiking / Nature Walk · Enjoy a Mani Pedi · Get a Facial/Massage · Take a Bubble Bath · Go to Happy Hour · Unplug from Technology · Catch Up with a Friend · Take Yourself on a Date · Do Something Creative · Make a Gratitude List · Try a DIY Project · Listen to a Podcast · Engage in a Non-Work-Related Hobby · Compliment Yourself in the Mirror · Celebrate Your Wins of the Week

· Journal · Read a Book · Call a Friend · Do Some Gardening · Mediate / Yoga / Exercise · Have a Picnic · Buy Fresh Flowers · Purchase Something for Yourself · Enjoy a Glass of Wine · Declutter a Space · Take a Nap · Edit Who You Follow on Social Media · Write Down 3 Nice Things About Yourself · Explore New Places · Hang Out with Friends · 30 Minutes of No Screen Time · Catch Up on Your Favorite Shows

· Get Your Hair Done

· Watch Your Favorite Movie

The list can go on and on and on. As I wrap this up, my challenge to you is that you pause for the cause AT LEAST on a weekly basis to take care of Y-O-U and ONLY Y-O-U!