Have you noticed that we, as women, tend to focus on everyone else? We are often the last person we think of taking care of (not sure if that made sense, but you know what I mean). When you are on a plane, the flight attendant tells you to put on our own oxygen mask first because it’s necessary to do that before we can help anyone else. It’s the same way in life. We have to take care of ourselves before we can pour into others. This involves practicing self-care. You may be thinking – “I don’t have time for that. Too many other people need me”. I would argue that you don’t have time NOT to practice self-care.
We often tend to see self-care as an indulgence. But it’s absolutely not, it’s essential to our well-being. So, what exactly is meant by the term self-care? It involves being mindful and taking care of your own needs so to ensure your physical, emotional, and mental well-being. At its core, self-care is all about being good stewards of our bodies and our souls so that we can be our best selves. We are God’s handiwork (fearfully and wonderfully made), and He wants us to flourish and thrive, not be depleted and exhausted.
Jesus prioritized self-care in his life as indicated below:
- Many times in the Bible, Jesus retreated from everyone else to rest alone or pray. (Mark 1:9-13, Mark 1:35, Mark 6:30-32, Mark 6:45-46)
- Jesus took time to sleep, even in the midst of chaos. (Matthew 8:23-27)
- Jesus encouraged Martha not to be anxious about doing housework, but to come and relax with him as Mary had done. (Luke 10:38-42)
- Jesus surrounded himself with close friends who would fellowship with him, encourage Him, and learn from His wisdom.
Self-care does not include necessarily involve binging on Netflix while eating a chocolate bar and drinking wine. Although this does sound rather enjoyable and is sometimes my go-to😊. These things aren’t bad in moderation, but it’s important to incorporate some positive habits to best manage your health and reduce stress and anxiety.
Here are some examples of positive self-care activities.
- Eating healthy and exercising – “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
- Giving yourself space to connect with God and prioritizing time with Him – “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Luke 5:16
- Doing things you enjoy and having fun – “That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil – this is the gift of God.” Ecclesiastes 3:1
- Resting regularly – “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” Genesis 2:2-3
- Spending time in nature – “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Psalm 19:1
- Preventive care activities – “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.” 3 John 1:2
A few weeks ago, I went to the dentist and got a mammogram. And just made my appointment to go to the “mole patrol”. Many self-care habits are not “fun” such as starting an exercise program, getting a physical, or the things I did today. But they are also critical to your health and well-being and will make you feel better in the long run.
So next time you think you don’t have time for self-care, realize that you don’t have time NOT to practice self-care. Let’s end with this Scripture which always brings me comfort.
“Jesus said, ‘Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.’ ” Matthew 11:26-30 MSG
REFLECT
How would you rate yourself on self-care on a scale of 1 to 10?
What do you need to do to ensure that you are caring for yourself adequately?
