Daily Non-Negotiable

When we think about the importance of self-care, it tends to encompass many things. Sometimes it is making sure that the pace of our day is balanced; it can mean the setting of boundaries, the things we consciously choose to do to feed our comfort system; the ways in which we rest, use our senses to self-soothe, feel at peace. Whatever our chosen means of feeling grounded, it is our tendency to set ourselves aside when our days get busy - when we feel frazzeled or frayed, we are actually less likely to lean into our self-care strategies. Perhaps that is why it is important to wake up each day and ask ourselves, "What is my self-care, non-negotiable for today?" For those who take comfort in routine, their non-negotiable is something they tend to take comfort in doing every day; mine for example comes in the form of a walk. Within an hour of the sun rising, with the blues and yellows of the morning sun, and the air fresh - it sets my day. For others, their non-negotiable might contain variety; perhaps it is a walk one day, a relaxing drive with tunes on the next, a bath, a meditation, a warm cup of tea while sitting in solitude. In any case, the lesson comes from setting aside time in our day - just for us. When we make it a part of our day, it reminds us to slow down and relish the art of designing our own lives and how we want our day to feel. Photo by Yerlin Matu on Unsplash