Self-care Menu

COVID-19 has changed the daily life of everyone around the world.

It’s normal to feel overwhelmed during times like this, and we must be gentle with ourselves. Our strong culture of relentless productivity coupled with social media causes us to compare how much we are getting done to what it appears others are doing. It’s important to slow down and remember to practice some self-care.

Self-care is different for each individual. For some it might be going for a bike ride, while someone else might want to cuddle up with a good book. A good way to remind yourself to practice self-care is to create a Self-Care Menu.

If you feel like you don’t have time to practice self-care, you could organize your menu by time. For example, it only takes 5 minutes to make a cup of tea. Or if you have more time on your hands, you could look at the half hour section of your menu and decide to take a bubble bath. You could also organize it by what aspect of your well-being needs work - is it physical, spiritual, maybe mental?

Physical self-care acts could include working out or cooking a healthy meal. Mental self-care could include taking a break to play a game or listen to music.

Your self-care menu should be personal, and include a range of small to large actions. When you feel overwhelmed or anxious, you simply take a deep breath and consult your menu for something that fits with you in the moment.

If you enjoy art, even creating and decorating your Self-Care Menu could be a self-care moment.

If you’re busy, you could even just compile a quick list on your phone.

A Self-Care Menu is an excellent way to prioritize yourself and introduce regular relaxation and joy into your daily routine.  

Jessica Dubauskas