Putting yourself first for once … for one whole week.

The most powerful thing anyone ever said to me about self care was “imagine that you’re looking after a friend or a sister – how would you look after them in this situation?”

I think it’s true that many of us jump to look after others and put ourselves last on the list for self care. It took me a long time to feel the difference between self care and selfishness, but that point of view really made me see what I was doing to myself in a split second.

OK, so we all know that “you can’t pour from an empty cup” and we need to look after ourselves, but how the blazes do you actually do that when you’re running around from pillar to post, making ends meet and making sure everyone else has got what they need. I found this really tough. It’s not just the mindset, but the practicalities too.

Well sure I’d love a nice long beach holiday with a massages and cocktails on demand, but it just isn’t practical is it? But I learned it’s not all about making big changes.

Here are some simple things you can do to look after yourself without making any drastic changes.

1. First thing in the morning drink a glass of water. It’s what we’re largely made of and it’s good to top that up.
2. Make yourself laugh. Even if you don’t feel like it. Find something that tickles your sense of humour and take a few moments to laugh with yourself.
3. Stretch. However you like, but take 90 seconds to stretch all the way up, side to side, twist gently and release some tension.

None of these things will take a long time, or intrude massively into your routine, but they will create little cracks into a busy schedule to think about self care. Over time that crack might become a crevice, and you might actually carve some time out for yourself.

Something I’ve observed in myself and others is that we wait until we don’t feel great before we take action. Getting into a routine of self care is an amazing way of building resilience and a reservoir of strength against the inevitable tests that will come our way.

It’s Mental Health Awareness Week this week in the UK, and I’m going to encourage you to put these things, and whatever else you might like to do for yourself, at the top of your to do list. Not the bottom. Not when you’ve done everything else. When all your chores are complete. Because let’s face it they never are.

You first. Then everyone else.