How do I use self-care?

Welcome back! I'm so happy you're here. Today I wanted to focus on something a little more personal. I graduated high school is 2019, and started to really care about my self care journey in late 2018. That year, my favorite form of self care was going to the gym. Now don't get me wrong, going to the gym is not a bad thing whatsoever. But, only focusing on the gym and putting off other things can be something that changes self-care from good to bad. Myself personally, I was counting calories, counting what I burned at the gym, making sure I was there minimum five times a week, all while trying to work and still be a kid in high school.

This is where things took a turn for the worse. Counting calories is not good for my mental health.

I started to focus on my calories a LOT. Counting coffee, a 5 calorie energy drink, one bite of a cupcake. I. counted. everything. This is really when I started reading the diet-fad blog posts, watching more Youtube videos, and pushing myself way to hard in the gym for a girl who really didn't know what she was doing.

I finally realized that the gym was a toxic place for me. I took a mere two weeks off. When returning, I talked to my gym's manager, and connected with a personal trainer. After that, I made an instagram to hold myself accountable. I was gifted multiple free personal training sessions from someone who followed that instagram. What that person doesn't know to this day, is those free sessions gave me time to talk to a professional about my struggles. To that personal trainer Rhonda, the things you taught me about working out and what I put in my body still stand with me to this day.

Eating more fruits and veggies, making real meals, and not eating at fast food is better for me. Being conscious of what I'm putting in my body instead of counting the numbers of what I'm eating makes me feel better.

This was just a short story of being able to realize if you're taking the right self-care path. The right path should continue to enrich your life, instead of making you struggle. It should be something you're excited to do, not something you dread and feel like you HAVE to do.

Currently, I self-care by trying to take life a little lighter. Not everything needing to be so serious all the time. I've been saying yes to more things with my friends, and enjoying the time I have with them. This year my promise to myself is to say yes more, because experiences are worth so much more than sad memories.

Take it easy, and give yourself some grace. I'll see you next time.