Self-Care Series

Part 10: What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is the state of being totally and completely aware and present in the current moment. To us at COVE, it means reflecting and accepting, as well as staying centered and grounded in current sensations, thoughts, and feelings. Mindfulness requires an increased awareness and non judgemental perspective. In other words, mindfulness is just being.

Part 9: What is Spiritual Self-Care?

Spiritual self-care includes all the practices that contribute to inner peace. Spiritual self-care can fall into the broader category of emotional self-care. It has a specific focus on connecting with ourselves and finding our own purpose and meaning for our lives.

Part 8: Is Self-Care Time-Consuming?

Here at COVE, we are split on our beliefs. Some of us feel that self-care is time-consuming, while others believe that it is not. Regardless of where we stand, we all agree on one thing: self-care is worth taking the time to implement into your daily practice. Here are some of our beliefs and some tips and tricks for time-friendly self-care!

Part 7: What is Emotional Self-Care?

Emotional self-care includes all the practices that care for your emotional needs and desires. Emotional self-care allows us to become aware of and better understand ourselves and our triggers. Caring for one’s emotional needs is something that many people usually regard as very low on their list of priorities, out of fear that it’s selfish or unimportant in the larger scheme of things. However, like all self-care, taking care of your emotional needs is essential in building self-awareness, resilience, and kindness. Emotional self-care provides us with an opportunity to honor our emotions and move forward productively.

Part 6: What is Physical Self-Care?

Physical self-care includes all the practices that help you energize your body. Physical self-care can be both on the surface, like getting your nails done or doing a face mask, and from within, like eating healthy and drinking water! Physical self-care can also be as simple as practicing daily hygiene, or as exerting as an hour-long workout. At the end of the day, practicing physical self-care fuels your body to help you feel your best!

Part 5: What Do COVE's Core Values Mean to Us?

To celebrate new beginnings, we asked members of the COVE community to share what their aspirations are for 2021. In what ways do COVE’s core values connect with these aspirations? Maybe our ambitions will encourage you to think about how your personal values tie into your own goals!

Part 4: Is Self-Care Selfish?

Self-care is not selfish! It’s self-preservation. The same ways we nurture our careers, families, and passions should extend to ourselves too. In the hustle and bustle of things, I’ve both seen and experienced when it’s frowned upon to take time for yourself. As adults juggling a work-life balance, we may prioritize whatever pays the bills and forget that our overall wellness is JUST as important.

Part 3: What Is a Self-Care Routine?

Practicing self-care is not an easy process; it requires a shift in mindset and a willingness to dedicate actual time. Like any other practice, self care begins with setting a routine. Some simple self-care practices that everyone typically engages in is brushing your teeth every morning and every night, taking a shower every day, drinking water, and sleeping. For many people, these practices are a privilege, especially during COVID-19, and we at COVE are extremely grateful to be able to have the time and resources to be able to practice self-care in as basic a capacity as this. As an organization striving for equity, we hope that this post will help make self-care more accessible and suitable for your own needs!

Part 2: What Do Boundaries Mean to Us?

Some common ways that we have practiced setting boundaries are through creating schedules and lists, communicating with others, and being kind to ourselves. Here are some of our experiences:

Part 1: What Does Self-Care Mean to Us?

The basic definition of self-care is in the words itself: taking care of yourself. This is something we all do unconsciously and consciously. Once we become more mindful of our daily actions, we can see how self-care is effortlessly incorporated into every part of our lives- physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. Then, we can debunk the myths that self-care is selfish, time-consuming, or expensive. If we take a step back and analyze how small things in our day contribute to our self-care, then we learn to focus on those small things and practice self-care in the most basic way possible.