WHY THE QUICK FIX SELF CARE FADS ARE FAILING YOU (AND HOW A CREATIVE SELF CARE HABIT CAN IMPROVE YOUR WELLBEING
are we failing at self care?
TODAY THE LIFE WE ARE EXPERIENCING IS SO FAST-PACED AND WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO SPEED THINGS UP, BE MORE PRODUCTIVE AND GET RESULTS NOW. SHOCKINGLY WE ARE EVEN APPLYING THIS FAST-TRACK MINDSET TO HABITS AND PRACTICES TO SUPPORT OUR HEALTH AND WELLBEING.
The internet is flooded with quick fix and superficial options from the health and wellness market, now even brands of tea are labelling themselves as a self care solution. As consumers, we are buying into these ideas because they fit in without impatient and instantaneous mindset.
However, this way of living is leaving us feeling that we have ‘failed’ at self care and more and more disconnected from ourselves, when in fact it is the quick fix fads that are failing us.
WHAT DOES SELF CARE LOOK LIKE?
As humans, we are still craving a slower place and a need to reconnect. Now more than ever we are living in an era of emotional intelligence, we are becoming more aware of this need to slow down and turn inwards and are actively seeking out more meaningful ways to do so - but what does this look like?
The truth is, self care looks different for everyone - there is no one size fits all solution. Most of us don’t even know what we truly need. We set health and wellness goals for ourselves (probably on New Years Eve - because that’s all we know) by plucking them out of thin air or maybe we choose the same one our friend is doing because we think we can support each other and then a few weeks or months down the track we are back where we started.
Why? Simply because we are not taking the time to tap into what we really need at a deeper level. Our goals are not in alignment with these needs and the direction we want our life to take. We cannot commit to them because they hold no real value for us.
I believe that self care is self-knowledge, self-reflection and self-development. So how can we identify our truest needs so we can continue on our self-development journey?
CUE CREATIVE JOURNALING
I have experienced creative journaling as a catalyst to healing and believe that it is the most personal and honest remedy to the inner and outer chaos we come across at unexpected times of our life.
Creative journaling is not about a ‘dear diary’ style of writing and recording, it is about using journaling as a tool to foster a mind and body connection. Studies have shown that engaging in mindfulness decreases stress, reduces sadness, increases focus and elevates happiness.
The style of journaling that I teach is a combination of thought-provoking and self-development inspired prompts, mindful practices and creative techniques which supports this mind and body connection, in turn showing us the answers we have been seeking all along.
Journaling is just one tool that you can use to engage in mindfulness, however, I am an advocate for journaling as it allows you to explore your mental landscape and bring consciousness to what you are experiencing in gentle but powerful ways. Journaling creatively in this way supports us to express our thoughts and feelings without fear of judgement, bring awareness to emotional triggers and relieve stress in a safe and controlled space (can the same be said for a herbal ‘self care’ tea!?)
Taking time out with your journal requires you to step away from the fast-paced and heavily digital world we cannot otherwise easily escape from on a daily basis and to instead tap into something much less prescribed, something you can physically connect with to manage your mind and your life.
BUILDING A CREATIVE SELF CARE HABIT
We have this ability inside us, all of us do, at our core we are creative beings and there IS so much potential and power within the pages of our journals, Tony Robbins says that “energy flows where attention goes” and I think this is important to apply to the practice of self care and creative journaling.
Where we choose to focus our intentions and invest our attention is where we will see the most change in our life. So much of our external world is shaped by what is going on in our internal world, if we make decisions from a place of fear, panic, confusion or stress the outcomes are likely to be reflections of those emotions. This is why I believe our self care habits need to have roots in a healthy mindset.
Shifting your mindset from one of a quick fix to a more deeply fulfilling and longer-lasting change requires prioritising yourself. Women, in particular, are often so entrenched in putting others first that their own needs fall off their to-do list entirely making this initial mindset shift a challenge, which is why I created a free course all about finding time and making space for a creative self care habit.
One of the major traps so many of us fall into when we decide to make changes in our lives is that we try to do all the things all the self care things at once. From a morning routine, a new self help book, new exercise program, new hobby.....but taking it slowing and implementing one thing at a time is key.
Otherwise we are immediately overwhelmed, we naturally cannot keep up and feel like we have failed if we can't stick to these new ideas. The aim is to build a habit for each of these things, we all know that habits take time to break but they can also take time to build too - remember this is not a quick fix but long lasting change process.
Creative journaling it the tool for this job, daily reflection, personal insights and subtle mindset shifts lend themselves to building a habit of growth.
You might think it ridiculous that one tiny change could completely impact your life. But what about one tiny change built upon another tiny change, over time those tiny changes become a transformation.
James Clear, Author of Atomic Habits says 'The holy grail of habit change is not a single 1 percent improvement, but a thousand of them'.
Building a self care habit of creative journaling is easy, rewarding and one that you will crave if you start to let it drop off. Here are my top 3 tips to get started:
3 TIPS TO BUILDING A CREATIVE SELF CARE HABIT
Routine:
Our brain loves consistency and routine, try and stick to the same time of day and place to practice your journaling
Make it accessible:
Make a space for yourself and your journaling - just little nook in your home will do. The simple act of leaving your journal out in plain sight will support you in actually using it
Journal from the 5 senses:
When you sit down to journal surround yourself with things that inspire you - your physical space affects your mental space. Consider how you can open up your 5 senses to really engage your mind, for me, it looks something like this: a hot drink (taste), pens with quotes on (touch), an intention from a card deck (sight), music (sound), incense or candles (smell)
CONTINUING THE JOURNEY
Throughout all of this I want you to remember, it is not the end result that is important (not the words, doodles or paint on the page) but the process you go through in putting them there, what your mind and body experiences along the way - this is where the real magic and real self care takes place.
Self care and creative journaling is a forever journey and the more we take part in the journey the greater the reward.