Break out the face masks, good books, and fancy snacks – it’s International Self-Care Day!
According to Google Trends, searches for “self-care” have more than doubled since 2015, so if you feel like you’ve been hearing about self-care more and more, you probably have! With stress levels on the rise and many of us re-adjusting to “normal,” there has never been a better time to start practicing self-care than right now.
There are infinite resources on self-care online, but the last thing you may want to do when trying to de-stress is extensive online research… We’ve put together insights from CommUnity staff members on how they practice self-care and what resources they recommend to get you started on your self-care journey today – International Self-Care Day.
Parth, GuideLink Crisis Counselor
How do you practice self-care?
I practice self-care every single day! Some forms of self-care for me include going on bike rides, playing tennis, watching funny TikToks or cool YouTube videos, meditating, and going on walks around local parks. Another form of self-care is to chat with my co-workers about random things. They make me laugh so much and are the best listeners! Lately, I’ve been playing music throughout the day and this has been a nice way to relax.
How does your self-care help you de-stress?
Self-care helps me check in with myself and my own needs. It reminds me that my wellness is my number one priority and there’s no need to feel bad about that. It allows me to be more focused on my work tasks and with school. It also helps me be more engaged with my co-workers, friends, and clients because I’m in a more clear headspace after I practice self-care.
What resources would you suggest to someone interested in practicing this type of self-care?
Insight Timer is awesome for meditations, YouTube has a lot of free yoga content, and there are beautiful parks around Iowa City to go on walks. My favorite park is Hickory Hills in Iowa City, and I love seeing the leaves change color in the fall.
Is there anything else you would like to share about your self-care?
It’s essential to practice self care! Please remember that your health takes priority over everything. For me, having new experiences, whether it’s trying a new snack item/drink or visiting a new destination provides much needed excitement to life. I recommend you try to do one new thing every week to keep life interesting. It’s so easy to fall into a pattern so why not add a little variety to things?
Aiden, GuideLink Program Manager
How do you practice self-care?
Baking – I’ll look up a new recipe online and try it out. If it comes out well, I bring it into work to share!
How does your self-care help you de-stress?
It gives me a low-risk challenge that I can feel proud of.
What resources would you suggest to someone interested in practicing this type of self-care?
Pinterest! And there’s lots of self-care ideas on there, too.
Is there anything else you would like to share about your self-care?
It doesn’t have to be elaborate – even small things that get your mind off what’s bothering you for a little while count.
Kyle, Grants & Research Coordinator
How do you practice self-care?
My main three are meditation, exercise, and music. I try to practice 10 minutes of meditation in the morning, and then smaller mindfulness check-ins periodically throughout the day. I like to change-up my daily exercise depending on the weather and friends’ schedules. Tennis, biking, weight lifting, and yoga are my go-to’s. Playing piano is one of my favorite activities in life! No matter what I’m doing, I pretty consistently have music going on in the background.
How does your self-care help you de-stress?
Meditation, exercise, and music are both my preventative and emergency self-care activities. I can fit at least two in each day, I feel much more relaxed and energized in general. But when something has me down or irritated, I give myself permission to find which one will help me best in that moment. Sometimes I stop playing piano or get off the exercise mat when I sense that it’s not what I need.
What resources would you suggest to someone interested in practicing this type of self-care?
There are LOTS of easily accessible websites and articles on meditation, but it can be pretty overwhelming to look at a list of 20 different meditation styles. My recommendation is to start with the basics: following your breath (and counting them if that helps). Exercise is always a tough activity to start and maintain. In the summer, it helps me to get outside and walk/bike/play sports as much as possible. Even doing the bare minimum feels better outside! Indoors, you can search for pretty much any type of exercise on YouTube for free. I recently started watching the recorded Zoom yoga sessions from Heartland Yoga in Iowa City. Before this past year, I really struggled to stay consistent in exercise. In everything but yoga, I try to beat my last record (time, distance, weight, etc.) by a little bit each time. Progress keeps me going.
Is there anything else you would like to share about your self-care?
My self-care activities are generally geared towards three goals: stress-relief, distraction, and growth. Between the main activities, I can usually tackle the day, and what I’m feeling at the moment. But I recognize that self-care is an evolving practice that must change with my physical capacity, mental energy, available time, and just plain desire to do something. There are some days where Netflix and pizza is the answer. When I can, though, I try to fit in the self-care activities which I know help me in the moment – and sustain good feelings into the next day.
Jake, Crisis Response Manager
How do you practice self-care?
I start by setting healthy boundaries.
How does your self-care help you de-stress?
Healthy boundaries allow me the space and time to actually pursue the hobbies and activities that help me de-stress.
What resources would you suggest to someone interested in practicing this type of self-care?
Pragmaticthinking.com/blog/saying-no does a good job of laying out steps for starting this work. I also think scheduling is helpful and scheduling “down-time” is key.
Julia, Development Manager
How do you practice self-care?
When I’m feeling like I’m in a funk, I get in the kitchen. I love to try new recipes whether it’s sweet treats, comfort foods, or something out of my comfort zone. I always feel renewed when I make something delicious that I can share with my friends and family.
How does your self-care help you de-stress?
Cooking or baking from a recipe doesn’t require any guessing. You just get your ingredients in order and follow the instructions. There’s something so cathartic about having it all laid out for you and achieving a beautiful result.
What resources would you suggest to someone interested in practicing this type of self-care?
Pinterest is my go-to!
Is there anything else you would like to share about your self-care?
Find something that helps you feel like you again. It’s not about what everyone else is doing or what the media shows us self-care looks like.
Emma, Marketing & Communications Coordinator
How do you practice self-care?
I love to knit when I watch TV, ride in the car, sit outside, or do anything I don’t need to use my hands for.
How does your self-care help you de-stress?
Knitting can be a mindless yet creative activity that still allows me to build skills and set goals. Once you learn to knit without looking at your knitting, the world will never be the same – there are no longer any activities you can’t do without also knitting. Also, wearing my handmade knits is empowering and reminds me that I am capable of learning new skills and creating something I love from a strand of yarn and a pair of sticks.
What resources would you suggest to someone interested in practicing this type of self-care?
Home Ec. Workshop in Iowa City has knitting classes, yarn, and notions (i.e. knitting needles, stitch markers, and other tools) and is a great place to treat yourself to some bougie crafting supplies. However, a $2 skein of yarn from Joann’s is perfect for beginners trying to get in the groove and Goodwill sometimes has grab-bags full of skeins of yarn and needles. Really, any yarn that makes you happy and excited is the perfect yarn for your next project – it doesn’t matter how “fancy” it is.
Is there anything else you would like to share about your self-care?
I’m what the knitting community would call a “selfish” knitter. Meaning I knit for myself 90% of the time. However, I don’t believe knitting something for yourself is selfish at all! A lot of time, thought, and energy goes into making a little sock (and then when you’re done you have to turn around and do the whole thing again to get a pair of socks). Knitting for loved ones is wonderful and thoughtful, but knitting for myself is how I really fell in love with the act of knitting instead of just trying to rush through to the end product. My knitting time is my time, 100%. The process and the product are both for me to enjoy, and everyone deserves a little “selfish” knitting time (or baking or reading or whatever time) because doing things for ourselves is not selfish.
