Finding the Keys to Our Self-Care

Lately I’ve been preparing for the launch of my new podcast, “Finding the Keys: Conversations on Self-Care for Parents.” Many of you may have already heard quite a bit about this project but for those who haven’t, it is an interview format podcast launching at the beginning of November, focusing on how parents can approach self-care. I’ll be talking to a full range of those who provide resources to parents in various capacities and also to parents about their individual strategies and struggles. Down the line I may even do a few live coaching sessions.

In working on it, I’ve been thinking quite a bit about what it means to take care of ourselves. As parents, as people. I find popular definitions on self-care vary widely. For some people it might imply going to get a massage or manicure, for others it means going to see friends, for others it centers around exercise and for others it’s something else entirely.

I find it could be all of these or none of these – that self-care is more about the mindset that we bring to it than about the specific activity that might be done. It’s about keeping ourselves and our own needs within view, within our priorities, and continually assessing how we might address them.

Many people may equate this with selfishness, but I find that actually it can be quite the opposite. If we ourselves are so often the instruments of care and doing for others, in taking care of those instruments (ourselves) then we are even better equipped to be there in support of the needs of others.

This is something that is true for everyone, but I find that parents in particular receive continual lessons on this from our relationships with our children. We all want to be as kind and careful and supportive as possible to these small developing people that depend on us, and that involves an almost continual examination of our own growth, and how we might refuel ourselves in order to best care for our children.

Those who work in the helping professions or manage the work of others also likely experience continuing lessons in the need for self-care. If we are going to share our energy with others, we must make sure that there is first enough energy there to share from.

I want to note, however, that these conversations will be a space for creative exploration on how we might develop, rather than lectures on what we might do differently. We are all doing what we can with the energy we have available in any given moment and so in exploring possibilities, it isn’t to say that we somehow haven’t been doing well enough. Rather, I hope to point towards resources as well as provide a greater sense of connection and community around how we can be there for each other. Community and friendships are such foundational parts of recharging our energy.

I’m so looking forward to talking more about this topic with experts in a number of fields, as well as sharing a segment featuring some of my current thoughts on the topic, and in addition plan to answer a listener question here or there. So please do send me your questions! Or if you have a topic that you’d like to see addressed or know someone who you’d like to hear from as a guest, please do pass along that information as well. 

Reflection questions:

What does self-care mean to you? Are there particular ways that it features in your mindset, choices or how you plan your time?