Create Self-Care Space is the first activity in the Am I Hungry? 7-day Mindful Self-Care Challenge.
Self-care sounds nice, and most of us feel it’s important. Doing it is a different story!
It’s easy to allow distractions, disruptions, busyness, and even doubt get in the way of creating the necessary time and space for self-care.
Make Yourself a Priority
To commit to self-care, you’ll need to first establish the mindset of “It’s worth it!”
If you’re not already convinced of the value of self-care, make a list of the potential benefits.
Perhaps more important, you have to decide, “I’m worth it!” Only then will you give yourself permission to invest the time and energy in self-care when other priorities compete for your attention.
Create Time for Self-Care
Schedule time in your calendar or planner for a self-care date with yourself. Half an hour to an hour each day would be perfect. Protect the time carefully.
Making time for self-care is the hardest when you are busy. That is also the time you need it most!
Remind yourself the time you invest in caring for yourself pays off in increased productivity, better mood, and a greater sense of well-being.
Create Space for Self-Care
The purpose of this activity is to create a space for yourself that nourishes calmness, creativity, and connection.
- First, walk slowly around your home and outdoor space and see it with “beginner’s mind,” as though you’ve never been in this space before. Beginner’s mind allows you to see new possibilities. As you notice judgments arise, acknowledge them then move on.
Notice areas in your home that could be repurposed to create your self-care space. Stay open as you identify as many spaces as possible without ruling anything out. These might include rooms, entry ways, corners, patios, gardens, and workshops.
- Keep your eyes out for comfy chairs, floor pillows, small tables and other surfaces, lighting, attractive containers and other items that might help you create a pleasant, functional space.
- Take a break to let your subconscious mind work out the details. Simply do something else for a while like taking a walk, meditating, or even sleeping on it.
- Now, choose your self-care space (or spaces) and a comfy place to sit.
- Add items that are calming, pleasing, and inspiring. Ideas: pictures of happy moments in your life, flowers or a plant, candles, vacation souvenirs, or anything that makes you go “ahhhh.”
- Ideally, this space is a food-free self-care zone you can escape to whenever you feel like eating and you aren’t hungry. If you don’t eat in this area, you won’t learn to associate it with food. (Of course, you may decide to enjoy water, tea, or coffee when you are relaxing here.)
- Your self-care space is great for relaxing, journaling, reading, meditating, writing, crafting, or anything your heart desires.
- Create a Self-Care Kit to keep your “redirection activities” ready and handy. (See Chapter 3 of Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat for details.)
This article has been updated from a previously published version.
Here are three more articles that you might find helpful:
Transform Your Relationship with Food
Life lessons from mindful eating
Practicing Self-Care: Mindful Gardening