July is Minority Mental Health Month. And while it is always a good time to consider your mental health maintenance, maybe this dedicated month will be the additional push you need to really prioritize your sanity. Because let’s be honest, there is always A LOT going on! This is where self-care comes in. Lately it seems like we can’t get away from this idea—it’s becoming kind of cliché. However much of a buzzword it has become, this does not negate the true importance this concept can play in keeping us healthy. Self-care can get a bad rap as it is often confused with the idea of “treat yo’self!” The act of self-care goes beyond things like getting our nails done or eating those extra carbs because it comforts us. While these things do make us feel better, they can miss the true essence of self-care, which at its core is about something much deeper.
So, what is “self-care” really?
According to the online publication Verywell Mind, self-care is the conscious act one takes to maintain and promote their own physical, mental, and emotional health. Keeping the true definition in mind should help to shift any guilt or reluctance you may have surrounding self-care. When you think about it this way, self-care as a form of health promotion, it’s much easier to conceptualize it as a necessity rather than a luxury.
But, is self-care for me?
Self-care is often seen as a luxury because the things that immediately come to mind are not cheap, such as a pedicure, a massage, or even yoga. And while these things can be nice additions to your health-maintenance plan, things do not require you to always come out of your pocket. Can’t afford a gym membership or a yoga studio? Youtube has everything from fitness and yoga to meditation. If you have the financial resources, great! But, if you have felt like self-care isn’t for you because it is too expensive, time is truly the only resource you need! Regardless of which end of the spectrum you fall on, you just have to be willing to take the time and invest in yourself.