While making breakfast this morning, a thought struck me. Whenever we talk about self-care, we usually picture skincare routines, spa days, facial kits, shopping, dining in fancy restaurants, traveling, etc. But sometimes self-care can be as simple as ‘not neglecting yourself’.
Growing up, there was always someone looking after me. My mother cooked nutritious meals, my father brought home my favorite fruits, and I rarely had to think about taking care of myself. I was what you would call a pampered child.
Then marriage introduced me to a completely different reality. Now, I was not just responsible for myself, but also for an entire family. I was cooking meals, managing household supplies, and keeping the house clean, while also working a full-time job.
Suddenly, while cooking meals for everyone else, it becomes easy to overlook yourself. Cooking one extra roti for yourself feels like “too much work”. You start skipping breakfast so you can join work on time. Nothing prepares you for this transformation!
That’s when you need to pause and care for yourself, too. On some days, self-care means taking out the 5 minutes and making 1 extra roti for yourself. Sometimes, self-care means taking those extra 10 minutes in the shower and not rushing.
I remember once my husband put it so perfectly when he said,
“Let me take care of myself, so I can show up for you when you need me.”
This perspective really stayed with me. Self-care doesn’t always mean putting yourself first.
Sometimes it simply means remembering that you belong on your own list too. You don’t need to stop caring for others. You just need to stop forgetting yourself.
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