Maintaining Good Self Care this Winter

Self care is a phrase we hear very often. But what does it actually mean, and how do we do it? Self care as a concept is simple - an activity (or lack of activity) that you do in order to give yourself some space, time and focus to re-energize. It can look like different things on different days. Sometimes, self-care for you might be going to the gym and hitting it hard on the treadmill. Other days it could be lying on the sofa under a blanket and binge watching an entire box set. A key way of knowing if something is self-care or not is to ask yourself whether you want to do it, or if you feel you should do it. If you’re only doing it because you feel like you have to, then it isn’t actually self-care.

Looking after yourself is always important, but it can become particularly vital in the winter months. Maybe you’ve heard of Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. This is a very real problem that affects thousands of people every year. During the winter months, we see less natural light, and so our bodies don’t produce as much vitamin D as during the summer months. The good news is that you are getting the benefits from daylight even on an overcast day, so there’s never been less of an excuse to put on your raincoat and get outside!

It’s not always easy to schedule in time to look after yourself. Or, what commonly happens, is that people pursue an activity for general well being - going for a run or going swimming, yoga, reading a book, learning a language, and attribute that to self care. Whilst it can be, and it is important to keep your body and mind active and engaged, it isn’t necessarily self-care. There are some things you can do to ensure you're getting the time you need.

Meditation

Try the Headspace app for some starter courses on meditation. It will guide you through some basic and short beginner meditations to help you tune in with your thoughts and feelings and get accustomed to acknowledging where you are each day.

Talking Therapy

There are so many counsellors, covering everything from traditional talking therapy to sex therapy for women. It’s worth considering whether you might benefit from some sessions. A well-trained therapist will also help you with your feelings and any negative thought patterns that you might have developed, and provide better coping strategies for you.

Put Time Aside

Schedule in time for yourself. Even if it’s just an hour, or the length of a podcast, it’s worth adding this time into your to-do list for the day. And be fastidious about keeping it. When we have a million things to do, activities we actually want to pursue are often the first things to slide from the list. Don’t let that be the case. Let everyone in your household know that you’re taking some self-care time, and then make sure you stick to it.