As you may have noticed, I haven’t posted for the past two days like I had intended to. Half because I’ve been hella occupied, and half because of my current crisis: not taking care of myself.
If you have internet connection, you’ve probably heard the term self care at some point, which while it sounds pleasant in theory, it’s kind of time consuming, costly, and romanticized. Self care every now and again is important, but there’s something inherently selfish about having a routine dedicated to pampering.
So, I coin the term “self maintenance,” defined as meeting the basic needs, like eating, and sleeping, and hygiene, and not overworking to the point of losing your sense of self. I feel like self maintenance compared to self care is very health related. It has to do with maximizing wellbeing on the individual level, building yourself up versus treating yourself like royalty.
Because, in case you somehow forgot, French nobles were very into self care, and then they died because everyone hated them.
I’m not saying that you shouldn’t ever indulge in self care. Self care is best used after strenuous work, like executing a big event, completing a project, or caring for someone else for a long time. I think self care is closely linked to self actualization (self realization, self discovery, etc.). It helps you focus back in on your own individual experience, to recharge in a sense, to sort yourself out. I think a big misconception is it having to be beauty related. For some people it’s zoning out and playing music, or game of basketball, or freeform art. It doesn’t have to be extravagant, but it’s kind of useless when done in the mess of things. You can’t multitask and it can’t be a marked activity. That’s when it’s no longer fun.
But it’s never a priority. I’m glad I’ve come to that conclusion.
So now that I’ve recognized that I have a problem, I want to help some of you! Yes me, the most qualified of the qualified. Please note that I’m actually twelve and therefore can’t be scholarly as far as medical necessity goes. Anyhow:
Do you sleep consistently each night? (at the same time, in the same place, undisturbed)
Do you get at least 6-7 hours consistently? (refer to top bracket)
Do you eat at least twice a day, throughout the day?
Do you eat a variety, and don’t cop out habitually to eat fatty foods?
Do you stay hydrated throughout the day?
Do you eat breakfast everyday?
Do you ever neglect any basic needs?
Do you maintain proper hygiene consistently?
Have you developed proper skills to combat stress?
I think you and I both know what the proper answers to those questions should be. It’s not shameful to be bad at taking care of yourself. However it’s important to evaluate and improve. You gotta keep growing.
I hope my struggle helps you through yours. And in the case that anyone who knows me personally reads this, I’m okay and working on it.
have a good day lovelies,
Kirsten
catharsis. ataraxia. 