I took a nap

& other things that actually count as self-care

I am very privileged to work with a team of four in my full-time job running the Hello Neighbor Network. Every week, we sit around a table for our regular meeting to discuss various tasks, progress towards goals, and other updates.

In the second half of last year, we’ve also added a self-care check in to the top of the agenda. I’m a little embarrassed I didn’t think of it myself, but I was inspired by a friend and colleague. It has become one of the most important things to me to know that I and my teammates are caring for ourselves each week. And when we discuss it, along with our upcoming days off, we model it for one another.

At this point, I’m not very interested in running on an endless treadmill. I’m in this thing for the long haul and I think one of the best ways to practice that for myself and my team is to keep self-care top of mind and top of literal agenda.

I’ve noticed over the weeks that there’s a beautiful variety in the things we list—parties with friends, helping someone out, getting a massage, taking a yoga class, spending time in nature. These are some of the classic hits of self-care in our day-to-day lives and the research bears out how important they are:

• people are happier, more satisfied and less depressed after helping others

• social connection leads to a longer life, better health, and improved wellbeing

• massage has all sorts of both physical and mental/emotional benefits

These are also the things I often go back to and they’re really great. Truly.

But I also have to say, some of my favorite answers to this question are even simpler—I was sick and took a sick day, my eye hurt and I went to the doctor, I was tired and I took a nap.

It might seem obvious and we sometimes qualify these answers, “it’s not exactly self-care but…”

But, honestly, I think this is exactly it. The embodied act of noticing what the heck is going on in our bodies and choosing to intentionally care for ourselves in the way we need (or at least the way we think we need).

Because six months or so of doing this and it’s finally hitting home for me too. ‘Tis the season for rest. I see taking time, taking a nap, taking a break for what it is.

---

What I’m loving right now:

• Groundhog’s Day: just one week away and we just rewatched the 1993 movie which is even better than I remembered

• Elephants & Tea: please share this with any adolescent or young adults with cancer in your life they can get the magazine for free