Embracing Bliss: A Journey into the Art of Self-Care

Self-care has been the buzz word since the COVID pandemic, but what does it mean and how can we apply it to our everyday lives?  According to Wikipedia, self-care is the “process of establishing behaviors to ensure holistic well-being of oneself, to promote health, and actively manage illness when it occurs.”

At LYV.on we want to be known for more than using buzz words, our foundation is self-care, and our focus is on shifting our everyday behaviors to live a more holistic lifestyle.

When I bring up self-care and life balance in conversations with other women the response is usually, “but how?” There is a stigma that if we use the “spare time,” (in quotes because I know I’m getting some eye rolls right now- “who has spare time?”) we have on ourselves that can be seen as selfish – I was reminded of this as I was getting ready for bed at 10pm on a Friday evening because I had a 6am hair appointment the next day. My husband made the remark “goes to show when you really want something done, you make it happen.” I asked what he meant by that statement, and he went on to repeat himself and say that getting my hair done most be important to me. Now my initial thought was “How dare you!” BUT I’m learning not to react in the moment so instead I processed what he said and responded with “getting my hair done is important to me, but so is spending time with our son, which is why I scheduled a 6am appointment so that I wouldn’t lose an entire afternoon.”

I share this story because it’s a prime example of balancing self-care and the million other responsibilities we have as women. I know I feel my best when my hair is looking good and fresh. So, what did I have to give up to prioritize the things (in that moment) important to me – well that evening I had to say NO (caps because as women we need to learn to say that word more often) to an evening out with girlfriends, because getting 7 hours of sleep is also important to me.

For me self-care is a balancing act, and when I say balancing, I don’t mean everything is evenly split 50/50 – it’s a balancing act of everything that’s important to me in that moment of time and that brings me joy from within. Paying attention to what I need in the moment to be my best for others is how I prioritize how much time and attention I give to someone or something.

So, ask yourself what truly matters to you and brings you joy? What do you need to give up prioritizing these things? And remember giving up something doesn’t need to be a forever choice; it just doesn’t suit you in this moment.

Live You. Love You

Maria LyVonne