Self-Care – What does that mean?
Recently, I was interviewed by two of my dear friends and fellow health warriors, Stephanie Merchant aka The Nutrition Mom and Jessica Procini, who helps women to “laugh themselves skinny.” In both conversations we were dissecting one of the keys to women’s whole health. Your whole health.
Mind. Body. Spirit. Health.
Self-care.
Self-care is essential.
My Mind loves hard core science. It’s curious about the complexities that underlie the fact that self-care calms stress lowering cortisol (stress hormone) levels. The right amount of cortisol is essential to keep you literally alive. Optimizing cortisol levels helps to optimize thyroid hormone and sex hormone levels. All of this keeps your metabolism healthfully humming along (which is why “laughing yourself skinny” actually works!), and keeps your sex hormones balanced. Keeping your sex hormones like estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, and pregnenolone in good shape helps you to fight fatigue and burnout, be fertile, have a sex drive, relieve PMS and pelvic pain, keep your bones strong, and even helps you to be more confident.
My feminine science brain loves self-care because of its nuts and bolts effect on keeping your hormones healthy.
My Body loves self-care because it just feels good. Think about self-care. What do you think of?
I think of a day of rest. Sleep. Laughing until I can’t catch my breath with dear friends. Getting a mani/ pedi with my sister and my girl. Massage. Breathing sea air. Watching my toddler crack herself up. Hiking for hours on a sunny 70 degree day. Watching the purple sunset. Spending all day at the Musee d’Orsay. Watching my daughter delight in a bowl of hot chocolate. Yoga. Really, I could go on and on.
Don’t you just want more of that in your life? I do.
My Spirit loves self-care because my work here on Earth can be heavy at times. The women who I care for feel broken in so many ways. (Though they are not.) They have been hurt by our broken world, and by other broken people. Spiritually, I must be strong enough to show them how whole they are even when they feel a lot of physical pain, frustration, or fatigue. I love having the gift to do this work. But, it takes buff, strong arms to hold the big glass mirrors that reveal the truth. I know that to do it for many years ahead while also raising two amazing daughters, and loving my husband for the long-term, I have to keep my body strong, my mind sharp, and my spirit loved.
What is your gift? What is your work? My guess is that you need your body, mind, and spirit to be healthy as much as I do. Share with us in the comments below… your favorite form of self-care and why you need self-care? I can’t wait to read your responses! Inspire us.
xo,
Important reminders. Some think selfcare is selfish but we can’t make a difference to others if we don’t make room for our own rest and restoration. I wrote a book about emotional, spiritual, and physical self care. It releases in a month but it’s on Amazon now. It’s called Renewed: Finding Your Inner Happy in an Overwhelmed World. I put eight years of research into the project.
I so agree! Great blog and perfect subject for busy Mommas.
Thank you for your recent interview for “The Inner Circle” and for sharing your wisdom. We have to “fill” ourselves up, so to speak, before we can let that overflow to others.
My favorite is alone/quiet time. I grew up as an only child and I find that I still need that time. It allows me to slow down and refocus.
I loved reading this! As a mom of 3 I often forget to care for me! I’m often taking care of everyone else and easily become depleted. I am looking forward to 2013 and more self care, guiltlessly!