What is Self care?

Self care is not selfish. You cannot serve from an empty vessel - Eleanor Brownn

A working definition of self-care focuses on health and well-being, the awareness and monitoring of stress, and the coping modalities that reduce stress. In addition, self-care increases well-being for the betterment of life as a whole and assists in the understanding of balance on one’s personal and professional obligations.

Why is Self care important? 

I believe it is important to acknowledge that self-care is not an intuitive act; we have not been taught to take care of ourselves first. Instead many times self care is still seen as selfish, which couldn’t be further from the truth. In order for us to help ourselves, we must be "filled up" and refueled. 

One of the easiest ways to describe this is the oxygen mask on an airplane. If the oxygen mask drops, what is the first step in the safety protocol? You put your mask on first. You are unable to help the person next to you without air; just as you are incapable of helping a stranger, family member, or friend in the absence of self care; inevitably you will burn out.