Carmelina Stolzenberg
time. // 5 Poems for Self Care by
hat I know exactly which poet I need in each unique situat
ion I am encountering. When I feel uncertain about my life, or depressed about what I am not -
methods of practicing positivity. As a lover of poetry, I find
w that it is much easier said than done. I think the bravest thing anyone can
mind yourself of who you are and if you have become someone that makes yourself
proud. Every mental health journey is different. Mental health might mean one thing to someone and something completely
do is start again the next morning as many times as it takes. T h ere is strength in persistence. We all have our own
I reach for Rupi Kaur. Rupi Kaur is the writer
of the famous “Milk and Honey”. If you haven’t gotten your hands on a copy yet, now is the
myself retreating to words on a page. I have read so much poetry and learned so much about each author t
nd not letting what society thinks I should be or look like get in the way. While I am a complete advocate for self-care, I kno
a world where expectations are high- the pressure that follows is suffocating. It’s important to take a step outside sometimes and to re 5 Poems: Mental health is not biased. It does not judge people the way we do. In
different to someone else. To me, mental health is accepting who I am a
Read Me
2020 was a year that brought about a lot of hardship, pain, and anxiety. However, it was also a year that brought about a time to self-reflect and re-focus on the things that matter most in life. Self Care was a movement given new life all over the internet as Tiktoks, news articles, talk shows, celebrities, and health professionals began talking about how to take this time to care for ourselves in ways that busy life tends to make us forget. Featured in these pages are thoughts I’ve formed and gathered over 2020 about caring for one’s self--emotionally, physically, mentally, spiritually, and in ways you may not tend to think. I hope these words and this art can soothe your soul and help refocus you on caring for the gift that your presence is in this world. God bless you. -Maggie, Zine Creator, 2021
Definition
“As a clinician, I often refer to self care as a huge part of what’s missing in the life of someone who’s busy and stressed. So what is self care? Self care in essence is the mindful taking of time to pay attention to you, not in a narcissistic way, but in a way that ensures that you are being cared for by you. “ -Maria Baratta, Ph.D
HuffPost
1. Self care means knowing who you are and your limits. 2. Self care means getting the sleep you need and knowing how to rest. 3. Self care means making sure that you're well fed. 4. Self care means finding a way to decompress throughout your day, not just when you leave work. 5. Self care means giving some thought to changing a difficult work situation. 6. Self care means taking time to get to know you better.
7. Self care means identifying what you enjoy doing and what's fun for you and make a serious effort to integrate it into your day 8. Self care means knowing how to decompress after a day's work. 9. Self care means feeding your spiritual self. 10. And finally, self care means taking time to love yourself and appreciating that there's only one you and you're the expert on that.
Self Care “’People used to talk about self-care in terms of pampering yourself,’ Brown said. ‘But self-care today is more like parenting yourself.’ Self-care used to be billed as a ‘therapeutic spa experience complete with wine and candles,’ Andre said. But applying a face mask or taking a bubble bath pale in comparison to the real work you have to do to keep yourself physically, emotionally and mentally well in 2020. ‘Self-care is not a massage or a manicure,’ Brown noted. ‘It’s putting boundaries and limits on your behavior like a parent would.’”
HuffPost “Brown added that it’s also important to note that self-care is not toxic positivity, which he defined as avoiding what you’re actually feeling for the sake of being positive. Acknowledging your feelings is now a vital, critical component of self-care even if it’s unpleasant. ‘If you
don’t reveal it, you can’t heal it,’
he said.”
H
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350 BC Aristotle believed in the importance of practicing happiness, as well as creating space for negative emotions. 1800’s Ralph Waldo Emerson discussed learning from your weaknesses in order to become stronger. Additionally, Samuel Smiles wrote the first self-help book, and it taught about taking control of your own life. 20th Century: Self care became overly simplified and optimistic, where things like fitness took over as life-styles. 2001: In a post 9/11 world, self care turned around to focus more on mental health and dealing with PTSD. 2017: Self care became about physical fitness, face masks, and athletic leisure clothing. 2020: As a global pandemic set in and suddenly people were forced to stay home, they began having to confront emotional and mental things they could avoid before--as well as the added stress and anxiety that came with Covid-19. 2020 caused the self-care movement to change once again, and it became about doing what you need to, in order to keep yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy--and this is about a lot more than simply doing a face mask.
Y
Commonly Thought-Of Self Care - Face Mask - Take a Walk - Make a Hot Drink - Journal -Pray/Meditate -Talk to a Friend/Family Member -Work Out -Take a Bubble Bath -Take a Nap -Order Food -Do a Craft -Read a Book -Listen to Music -Sleep In -Wear Comfy Clothes -Get a Massage
Easily Overlooked Self Care - Keep your Environment Clean -Giving Space for Negative Feelings, then Bouncing Back -Say No to Overextending Yourself -Eliminate Toxicity in Your Life -Eating Enough Nutrients to Care for Your Body -Drink Enough Water -Practicing Self-Reflection -Paying Your Bills On Time -Managing Stress -Take Necessary Medications/Vitamins -Responsibly Manage Your Money -Give Yourself Space to Cry -Getting Enough Social Interaction -Practicing Good Personal Hygiene -Dress for the Day -Keep a Planner
Self Care Summed Up
I hope this zine has given you some new ideas about how to take care of yourself.
Please remember that you are a blessing to this world, and blessings should be treasured and cared for.
Never forget that.
Bibliography
Thanks to Carmelina Stolzenberg for the poem; Maria Baratta Ph.D for the definition; Psychology Today, Pure Wow and HuffPost for the self care advice; and Yahoo search engine for the images
Zine by Maggie R
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Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
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