It's Self Care Week: Megan on What Self Care Means to Her

I’m going to be completely honest, I’m tired. I’m so fucking tired. I’m burnt out. I’ve been burning the candle at both ends and trying to relight the ashes of what’s left. Did you know you can’t relight ashes? I do. I’m not here to complain, that’s what my journal is for. I’m here to talk about self-care. And I need it.

I work two jobs. I have a 40-hour a week day job that I’d like to think I excel at. I try to do my best every day that I’m there, and sometimes that means I work longer and harder than I should. I also work a freelance job because I do want to retire someday and if you’re a Millennial reading this, you’ll know how unattainable that looks right now. On top of that, I’m running the social media/marketing for this film. Admittedly, I could be doing a better job of that, but I’m tired. I promise I’ll do better.

Self-care has become a hot topic over the last few years. Mental health days, self-care tips, things to buy for self-care, talking about self-care. You name it, someone’s writing a listicle about it and thus, so shall I. So here are my Big 3:

Running/Exercise

I love to run. I also love Pilates, yoga, Barre classes, dance classes, you name it. It releases endorphins, it makes me sweat, it makes the long hot showers afterward all the better. It also makes my face turn really, REALLY red, which doesn’t embarrass me as much now as it used to.

Baking

I bake stuff for my friends. Cookies, cakes, cupcakes, a croquembouche, whatever. It’s something to focus on and pour every bit of myself into for a while and it brings joy into the lives of not just me, but my friends as well. Since it sparks joy, it must be worthwhile (amiright, Marie Kondo?).

Spa Day/Skin Care

I’m just gonna put this out there, Sephora is a fucking wonderland. It doesn’t matter what gender you identify as, Sephora is the place for you. Or Target if you want some bargains. For years I thought of a skin care routine as something silly that only girly girls did. I was so wrong, so, so wrong. Every morning I have 10-15 minutes to myself where I can just focus on myself and feel good and maybe, just maybe, look good, too.

There is one important thing I’ve learned about self care and that is this:

You do you.

Right now, I’m sitting on my couch watching Bad Moms waiting for my face mask to dry while I eat bits of waffles I made 3 hours ago dipped in syrup.

Is that pretty? Hell no.

Is it what most websites will sell you as self care? Also hell no.

But you know what? It works for me. I feel good right now and I’ve been working for almost 13 hours today.

Self care is not always glamorous. It’s not all soft blankets and warm tea and baths with fancy oils. It’s not always Instagrammable. It’s about embracing yourself and your needs and rolling with it.

One of the things I also firmly believe in when it comes to self care is that there should be no shame or guilt involved. You do you and own it. I used to think of reading fluffy girly books as a guilty pleasure. I don’t any more. I own it. I like books with shiny things, the color pink, or the word ‘love’ in the title. Anyone who wants to judge me for it is missing out on some solid meet cutes.

So if it’s meditation that does it for you, do it. If it’s ASMR that does it for you, do it. If it’s belting out showtunes in your car as you haul ass down the 405, do it. If it makes you feel better, do it. Just make sure you actually Do The Thing instead of just thinking about doing the thing. Make it a priority. Make yourself a priority. You are worth it.

-Megan