What Does Self Care Mean In 2022?
As I sit to write this article, listening to old Hindi songs, munching on almonds, the mellow sunrays warming my face as I overlook the skyline of Mumbai, it makes me realize how lucky I am to be alive. Sometimes, there are the heart-pumping adrenaline moments that make us every heartbeat while sometimes there are moments like these, where everything seems perfect, euphorial at least for that moment. A non-monumental event like was easily overlooked back in 2019, but me, just like everyone else, woke upto the importance of smaller, finer things in life after spending two tumultuous years during the lockdown. We hit the pause button, took a peek inside and found joy in fleeting moments for 500 odd days. Naturally, the definition of self care was changed forever.
Having no luxury to step outside, fortunately or unfortunately, the only place we could go to was inwards. While it helped a lot of people discover a lot about themselves, for others it was a time to fight their demons and come face-to-face with things, people and situations that they were blissfully avoiding all this time. Either way, these two years taught us a lot, cementing the need for self care. Today, as we look back, we realize how much we needed those two years. Just like the right of passage, it felt as if we had to go through the worst to appreciate all the good in life.
It is because of this lens of gratitude that the same world now seems so different. Self care is no longer a thing we restrict to lazy Sundays and chilled out vacations, but we'd rather have sprinkled the bits into our everyday lives. We’ve revisited the idea of rest, and taken the liberty to dwell in it as much and as long as it is needed.
Self care is different for everyone
There is no ‘Dummy’s Handbook To Self Care.’ There’s only one rule – you do you. While some people found solace snuggling and resting, some loved to move and practice Yoga or dance. Which is how self care should be. Only you get to decide what you mind, body and soul needs and then you do exactly that.
Like a deep cut that is still healing, we’re still in the sloppy slumber and recovering from the turmoil the last two years put us through. Which is why self care in 2022, is not just a necessity, but a way to tell yourself, ‘I love you.’
How self care in 2022 can look like
1. Taking good care of your health and wellbeing
If your body can keep you alive from a deadly virus, the best way to give it a ton of love is by treating it well. What’s the area that you need to work on? It can be getting enough rest, sleeping well, eating clean, moving your body, drinking enough water, literally anything. Set small targets and achieve them every day. It can also be something simple as taking a mindful bath and doing your skincare diligently. Whatever makes you and body happy, do more of it.
2. Include in mindfulness activity
You might have tried colouring mandalas or practicing Yoga in the past two years, and you know you felt good. Practicing mindfulness is like giving your mind and body tiny little doses of happiness every day, which all have a cumulative effect. Even though today you might be travelling to work and living a life you used to live pre-pandemic, find time to slow down and catch your breath. Pottery, gardening, playing an instrument and reading are some great ways to relax too.
3. Leave behind fear
The ripples of the uncertainty that the pandemic created is still very much felt today. If there is one thing that it taught us was this – life is too short and there is no time to delay joy. All you have is now, and that is enough. Fear holds us back from living a life we want to live and doing the things that we’ve always wanted to do. So let all go, remind yourself that you only live once and do everything that scares you the most. Because at the end of the day, you will sleep knowing that you did all that you could and you have no regrets.
That’s what I would do. What does self care look like for you?
Related Articles:
Why Skincare Is A Form Of Selfcare
Leave a comment
This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.