Self-care basics: Tuning in to energy

Self-care can take on many forms, and is often most impactful when it includes a range of actions, activities, and practices - things that are designed to help you best tend to your various needs and energy levels (more on this later!).

Self-care can range from the simple (i.e. engaging in your favourite, fun, or relaxing activities with Self or others; taking breaks; resting), to the more complex (i.e. setting and maintaining healthy boundaries in various spaces and relationships; tending to core needs; establishing routines and life practices that are sustainable for you, and so on). In other words, while self-care sometimes looks like having a bubble bath or going out with some friends, it also requires us to pay attention to some of the bigger (and impactful) structures of our lives.

The key is to be aware of and tend to all aspects of Self - in other words, taking a holistic approach to self-care. It's also about finding balance - keeping in mind that this is not a fixed *something*, rather it is a fluid *something* that might look different day to day, moment to moment. Now, when I talk about being aware of all aspects of Self, here's what I mean. We all have many different types of energy that reside within (and arguably, without!) us - this includes physical, emotional, cognitive, social, and spiritual energy. These aspects of energy are inextricably tied to our core and complex needs, requiring ongoing self-reflection, awareness, and a willingness to respond thoughtfully to our unique energy needs, moment-to-moment.