All too often we talk about treating ourselves to a nice cup of coffee, or 15 minutes of peace and quiet from the chaos of life. But if we look at self-care as an occasional treat rather than a consistent habit, then we are left ragged, burnt out, and scraping for anything to help. There is a metaphor that I heard that likens self-care to NASCAR, and man does it make sense.
If we look at self-care as all-in-one pit stops rather than oxygen masks, then we will start to understand self-care as less of a last resort and more like daily planned stops. In NASCAR, pit stops are vital to the overall performance of the race car and driver. If a racer pushes past a planned pit stop, it can leave fuel low and tires ragged. For drivers, the pit stops are not signs of weak performance; rather, they are a vital tool to help them win the race.
Now if we liken this to ourselves, we can understand self-care a little bit better. It can be easy to see self-care as something you need sporadically rather than consistently. Or even to think that if you need self-care, you are weak. But this is simply not the case. Scheduled and consistent self-care is a performance booster and helps to maintain energy levels, increase self-awareness, and improve overall quality of life. You need self-care constantly so that you don't run yourself ragged and end up burning out before you reach the finish line.
Now, these NASCAR pit stops are fast, and I mean fast fast. Just like these pit stops, self-care does not need to be long and drawn out. It can be as simple as going for a walk after work, washing your face in the morning, making sure you eat throughout the day, drinking water, or even meditating for 5 minutes. This simple but consistent self-care is what keeps you going without ending up burnt out.
I will never say that I am perfect at self-care, or that I have it all figured out. But I am getting more consistent with my self-care. Some days it's making sure I get in a cup of coffee before I head to work, and other days it's sitting in my room with the lights off to decompress after a long day. And this consistent self-awareness that I need consistent self-care has made such a difference in my life. I have more energy, I am more excited about life, I am more present, and my relationships have gotten much more attention and care.
I know that our self-care boxes are often seen as a treat for every now and then. But my goal with every box is to provide self-care tools that you can use every day, not just on the days you aren't feeling 100%. I hope that you will take a moment to consider how some simple daily self-care could improve your life.
Love ya,
Mariah