When looking at what self-care is, most people think of the “in-the-moment” or “quick-fix” strategies to deal with stress, worry, and tension. While things like bubble baths and massages might help alleviate the immediate effects of stress, their effects typically wear off quickly. They’re more a short-term solution.
True self care is really more about PREVENTION than INTERVENTION. Let’s take a look at intervention first.
Intervention
Intervention has to do with our reaction to what has happened – a fight with a loved one, an unrealistic demand from a supervisor, an unexpected expense, etc. We might react by verbally attacking someone else or biting our tongue and feeling resentful. We might automatically think the other person is at fault or doesn’t understand, or we might think “what’s wrong with me” or “why does this always happen?”
We might turn to stress relieving activities, such as bubble baths and massages, to cope with our reaction. But once the water drains and the last muscle is kneaded, we’re still left with the consequences of our reaction. We may have said or done something we regret to someone else or even ourselves. Which leads to other interventions, healthy or not so healthy, and the cycle continues. Intervention strategies are about feeling better quickly. Some examples of intervention strategies might include:
- Yelling into a pillow (rather than at someone else)
- Treating yourself to decadent dessert
- Taking a long, hot bubble bath
Prevention
Prevention is about setting ourselves up for success and shaping our reaction BEFORE we have it. It’s about breaking old patterns of reaction and creating a pause between what has happened and our reaction so we can choose how to respond. It involves respecting ourselves enough to make healthy choices more often than we make unhealthy ones. It’s about lifestyle, consistency, and commitment.
By committing to prevention, we learn to take care of ourselves (mind, body, and spirit) in ways that helps us take time out before we respond, choose our words and our actions, and deal with stressful situations in ways that honor not only ourselves but others.
Ultimately, prevention is about how we treat ourselves – the actions we take to care for ourselves, the thoughts we have, and how we feel about ourselves. Prevention is about long-term habits that set us up for success and decease the need for or lessen the intensity of intervention. Some examples of prevention strategies might include:
- Getting enough sleep each night (7 to 9 hours)
- Moving your body regularly (walking, working out, etc.)
- Practicing relaxation strategies, such as mindfulness or meditation, daily
While bubble baths, massages, and other nurturing intervention strategies can be part of an overall self-care plan, they are only a small part. For true and lasting ways to take better care of ourselves, it’s important to incorporate prevention strategies.
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