Self-care as a practice

By Joline Atkins, Artistic Director at the Portobello Cultural Life & Art Center

My biggest issue with “self-care” talk is that most don’t engage in it until they’re at their absolute lowest. It’s not a practice. It’s a safety net.

And then, similar to binge-eating, when one is coming off of overly restricting one’s calories, they tend to swing full force in the other direction.

There is a never an adoption of a practice.

Self-care remains a haphazard reaction.

It’s why my day always starts with movement. I know my body responds favorably. My anxiety settles down. My brain brains better, and my creativity gets a “whoosh!” So I, with my privileged schedule, schedule nothing until I’ve had my morning movement. It’s a boundary I hold sacred. And I tell people this boundary.

I suggest people examine and discover that “one thing” (like what movement does for me) and lock down the ability to do that one thing DAILY. Even if that’s, say, reading for 10 minutes max. Rather than voicing “Ugh. I’ve not been able to read for a week,” you’ve at least gifted yourself 10 minutes a day. Little wins are great fuel to move you forward.