I was recently asked this question. For me, "Take care of yourself" translates into "Love yourself." By that, I mean love yourself as you love your family and friends. 2010 was a long journey of courage. One of the lessons I learned from that journey was to have the courage to love myself. I give so much time, energy and love to others but skimp on things when it comes to myself.
How does one love themself if they don't know how?
I made a list of needs vs. wants to figure out how to take care of me. I have to make sure that I take time for personal prayer in the morning. I "need" that to function properly. I'm also working on eating a bit more healthy and taking vitamins. Exercise is important as well. I respond well to anything outdoors especially cold winter walks. I find them refreshing and uplifting. Often, if I'm by myself, I use this time as additional prayer.
Another need is quiet time in the afternoon for me to recharge. I'm an introvert by nature so spending time with others, especially outside the home, takes a lot of energy. If I don't recharge, I'm grumpy. I try to use that time for something that I enjoy doing like reading.
How do I make it work?
Well, I've been praying about ordering my life so that I feel like I can take care of myself. I've become more focused on how I spend my time and what brings me joy. In doing so, I have to give some things up.
What activities become excluded?
Through this journey, much of my online time has been eliminated. It freed me up to do some of the things on my list that I didn't think possible. That gives me joy.
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