The Art of Self-Care

By Paula Harris

PHYSICAL HEALTH FOR WIDOWS

We hear the phrase “self-care” tossed around a lot in everyday conversation, but what does it really mean? For some, the phrase probably conjures up images of massages and pedicures. For others, maybe it reminds them of their weekly yoga class or a nightly meditation session before bed. For others still, perhaps it means balancing their checkbook or organizing their file cabinet. The truth is, there is no one set image of what self-care looks like — it’s different for each individual.

First, it’s important to clarify what self-care is not. It is not instant gratification. A shopping spree might make you happy for an hour or so, eating a bag of chips in the moment, and lying on the couch all day instead of getting outside may feel comforting, but these small moments of bliss are often followed by longer periods of regret.

That’s not to say that you shouldn’t indulge every now and again. If you’ve worked hard and earned a work bonus, by all means, treat yourself …