Self-care is an Essential Tool in your Creative Toolbox

Do you find yourself putting the needs of others first and pushing aside your own needs? There comes a time when we need to take some time out and prioritize our own well-being – this is called self-care. Do you see self-care as just one more “thing” on your to-do list?

I know you have your creative goals on your to-do list, but do you have your self-care goals on your to-do list?

When I started my wellness journey to heal myself from burnout and exhaustion, I felt that self-care was yet another thing I had to do and add on my already long to-do list. At the beginning, I felt that it was really difficult to try to slot some “me time” or think about the things I can do for self-care.

Now, I feel that self-care is an important part of my daily practice that I look forward to. I need self-care to distress and recognise that it’s essential for my own physical, mental and emotional health.

Initially, I also thought that if I talk and teach about self-care practice then I should do it myself. More recently, I have realised that self-care is part of the role and responsibilities of healers and creatives.

Attending to our self-care is a responsibility to ourselves, our craft and to others especially those that we serve.

Self-care shouldn’t been viewed as just another thing we have to do. Self-care is not selfish.

Self-care is an necessity, not an add on. It’s not a luxury, it’s vital for a balanced life.

Self-care, according to World Health Organisation (WHO) is about the promotion and maintenance of health and well-being.

Self-care is about ensuring your physical, emotional and/or spiritual needs are met.

Self-care is not something “extra” to do, if you have the time.

Instead, self-care should be viewed as an essential part of prevention for stress, burnout and an increased professional competence.

Self-care is an essential tool in your creative toolbox.

Research shows that self-care enhances your health, decision making and day-to-day work. (Barnett and Cooper, 2009)

If you find starting a self-care practice daunting and overwhelming and don’t know what self-care practices can be beneficial to you, begin your self-care practices by asking yourself where you feel depleted.

I guide my clients and students to begin their self-care practice by asking them to identify where they feel they need most nourishing in their life right now.

If you find yourself reaching for a sugary snack, instead of acknowledging you are craving some self-care time, you can try journaling.

Through journaling you might learn that you need to say “no” to certain things, so you can create more space and time for a simple self-care practice that works for you. Through journaling you can find out what you might be resisting and what you can do to change, so that you can establish a nourishing self-care practice that supports your needs on a daily basis.

Journaling doesn’t need to be done on your own, you can join our welcoming mindful writing community through our Flow Workshops – this is your invitation to take some time out for yourself.

References:

Barnett, J. E., & Cooper, N. (2009). Creating a culture of self-care. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 16(1), 16–20.

World Health Organisation (2022). https://www.who.int/health-topics/self-care