Commitment to Self-Care
Photo by Content Pixie on Unsplash
One look around any media platform and you will find mental health as a focal point. There are YouTube and Instagram accounts dedicated to yoga, wellness juices that boost the mood, face goop, and manifesting some of that good shit into your life. Some of it is helpful…and some of it screams like a cash grab. BGF cares about your mental wellbeing, but in the way that we understand that feeling stressed, overwhelmed, anxiety-driven are all mental states that are not allowing you to be the best you. And that is a barrier to our mission where we want you to invest in yourself. So let’s take a moment to explore self-care and what that means to the BGF and what it should be to you.
Self-care should not be something trending on Twitter. It’s not a commercial ploy to a brand to make their money. It’s not a selfish act. Rather it’s about identifying the values and needs you have in your life and taking the time necessary to nurture them so at the end of the day you feel content, fulfilled, and hopefully energized.
So let’s focus on you. When you take a moment to listen to how you describe your mental state and your emotional needs, what are you saying to yourself?
I need to meditate on that, Just breathe
Let’s go for a walk/jog/run
Hmm…Hot yoga sounds nice
You cannot miss leg day
I would love a banana, peanut butter smoothie
I must HIIT
I am not an antagonist muscle
I need a night out on the town
Need to incorporate some joyful movement
I got to get drinks with the girls
I want to eat at my favorite restaurant
I need to add that to cart
I miss having a full-face like James or Nikkie
It’s been 14 months since I have been in my power heels
I like the face goop.
Taking makeup off at the end of the night
Reading a book
Soaking in the tub with lots of bubbles
Scented candles in every room
Did you say skincare routine
Tidying up
I need a social media detox
I don’t want to committee to plans
DoorDash is my boo
Wine and Netflix
I would like to wear my favorite shirt two days in a row.
A FUCKING NAP
Athleisure, but not because I am going to sweat it out
If your responses looked more like 1-7, you need to move your limbs around. Get active. If the responses were 8-14, then you need some quality time with your good friends. Message them to see what they are doing this weekend and if they want to go to that new wine bar. Responses were 15-21, we might need to take a trip to TJ MAXX but it sounds like we are having a spa night. Why night bring your best friend over and make it a sleepover? And those of you with 22-28, stay home in your favorite shirt over the weekend and turn off your phone. No judgment.
Take a moment now a schedule with yourself an afternoon (or evening) off this weekend and plan an uninterrupted self-care routine that does one of the prompts that inspires you. Go on, open up your phone and add it to your schedule. Add an alert. Add more than one alert if you are the type of person that snoozes in the morning. Block out that time. When this time comes, I want you to hide or remove yourself from distractions so you are not interrupted. If you love watching one TikTok after the other, hide your phone. Also, remove ahead of time any barrier to this commitment to yourself. Do you like to go jogging but the weather forecast looks far too hot or raining? Then do a simple google search of climate control venues in which you can jog around. If on-campus this might mean the co-rec. If off-campus find a parking garage that is free over the weekend.
This month we will post more frequently than the Friday postings to give your ideas on how you can make communities out of these distressing activities since there is a lot more to unpack here. Also please check our Instagram for cool shareables – checklists, bingo, and guides.
Your Bad Good Friend.