Self care is NOT selfish.

Let me say that again. Self care is NOT selfish. 

I first heard this phrase (in a way that made an actual impact) at Sassycon, and it made me sit up and really pay attention.

I am writing this post from a friend’s beautiful kitchen, on a vacation that I felt guilty for taking. Luckily, my guy is amazing, and told me to immediately stop thinking that way (because there was no reason to do so).

The simple fact of the matter is that we all need to take breaks sometimes to recharge our batteries/refill our cups/[insert whatever metaphor works best for you here]. Self care is absolutely necessary!

I have often found myself lately getting increasingly anxious, impatient, and snappy with people. This is not my usual temperament, and it’s not fair to the person on the receiving end (or to me). So when my amazing friend Francesca asked me to come visit her while we were talking on Messenger one night, it was very tempting. Like, immediately start researching plane tickets tempting.

A quick check in with my guy (because someone has to take care of the dog) and I was good to go! I’m grateful he was completely on board with me “running away” for a long weekend. So now I am typing this  during a much-needed weekend getaway.

You guys, I got a full night of uninterrupted sleep last night (which was amazing)! Pippin (my very large cat) has been pretty awful lately. He has recently decided that 4am is the best time to sing us the song of his people. Unfortunately *I’m* the one who wakes up all the time. Pippin definitely has not helped with my general mindset or mood lately.

Other ways for self care

Audible and podcasts are another way that I decompress at the end of my day. I currently have a very long commute, so having these available are definitely sanity savers.

In fact, I have just recently (like, literally 2 days ago) finished listening to the audiobook of “Girl, Wash Your Face” by Rachel Hollis. If you are looking for a “self help” book that isn’t too corny or trite, I highly recommend this one. I will most likely be re-reading (okay, probably listening) this one, so I can really pay attention now that I know what to expect.

I have also recently started using Perfectly Posh products for some extra self care. The masks are a perfect way to take a 10-30 minute break from your day. If you watch a short video/tv show or listen to a short podcast, you can multitask your self care!

What do YOU do for self care? If you don’t do enough, what will you start incorporating?