Self-care plan
Emotional self-care is an integral part of a self-care routine. Most people overlook their emotions when planning a self-care routine. However, emotions play a vital role in our lives and also need nourishment. Just like books and intellectual material nourish our brains, our emotions need to be explored, understood, and expressed. Understanding the importance of emotional self-care, I came up with an emotion self-care plan.
I always explore my emotions before making a critical choice. I realized that my feelings impact my decision, even unknowingly. Therefore, to avoid making irrational decisions, I ask myself how I would feel before making a decision. Exploring my emotions is a way of ensuring I do not regret after making a choice. I will be comforted by the fact that I considered all circumstances, including my emotions.
I express my emotions after processing what I feel. Before understanding the importance of emotional self-care, I used to bottle up my feelings to confrontations. For instance, if a friend made me angry, I would avoid telling them that they made me angry. However, at present, if I feel angry, I process why I think the anger and decide whether I should tell the person or not. Expressing my emotions is also a way of learning the triggers of my emotions. I understand what makes me happy or sad. I also understand situations that are likely to make me angry, and I avoid them.
I allow myself to make mistakes. Before understanding the importance of self-care, I used to feel awful after making a mistake. For instance, when I failed a test, I would blame myself for not studying enough. Currently, I understand that no one is perfect, and mistakes are inevitable. Therefore, instead of brooding over a mistake, I retrace my steps to see where I went wrong to avoid a similar mistake in the future. Listening to motivational songs also helps me stay positive.