5 Ways to Show Up For Yourself
Grind culture is real.
You feel like you know it better than anyone else: You sprint through your day at breakneck speed just to get everything checked off your to do list. You’re well-versed in the art of pushing through burnout; and when you’re not at the 9 to 5, you’re thinking about the 9 to 5. You find yourself running on automatic, almost to the point where you can’t distinguish one moment of your day from another.
Read: What is Mindfulness and Why Do I Need It?
Add fuel to the flame: Now we’re in a global pandemic. You have easier access to your office, so you just keep on working because, well, why not. You’re teaching arithmetic to your four kids, on the phone with a prospective client, and making sure dinner doesn’t burn the house down… all at the same time.
You’re tired. Like, really, really tired. You feel like you’re so busy being everything to everybody else that you have nothing left for yourself. You feel like nothing you do is enough and you’re nowhere near where you thought you’d be by now.
Well, I’m here to tell you how to show up for yourself for a change.
What do I mean when I say “showing up for yourself”?
‘Showing up for yourself’ has become a trendy way to say ‘practicing self-care,’ but in my mind, it’s more than just a bubble bath and taking a night off to binge-watch The Queen’s Gambit. Showing up for yourself is more comprehensive than that: It’s loving yourself, honoring yourself, and honestly, just doing what you need to do so that you feel more capable of pursuing your authentic self.
With work-related stress and anxiety-incurring global issues at an all-time high, it’s important to be your own advocate for your happiness. While there are certain things we cannot change, we do have a heavy hand in how we respond to things. And showing up for yourself is a testament to that knowledge of your self-worth.
Putting it into action.
Here are some ways that you can put this new-found perspective on your mental health into practice.
- Talk back to the negative self talk. You know the bothersome interjections you experience throughout your day, telling you that you’re not doing enough, you’re not fast enough, you’re not good enough? That little voice doesn’t tend to talk in your favor, but who said you can’t talk right back? Make an effort to say something supportive and encouraging instead.
- Commit to your intentions and routines. The things that make you happy? Do them. Commit to that skincare routine or going to therapy or waking up early to be in the office earlier so you can spend time with your significant other in the evenings. Recognize where it is your pursuit lies and commit to it. Commit to yourself and defend your peace.
- Take yourself seriously. Self-doubt is going to be a part of the conversation. It just is. It has a sneaky way of making itself heard, but remind yourself daily that you deserve to be where you are. You have worked hard to get to this place in your life, and you will work hard to be where you aspire to be next. (Note: Don’t be mistaken. “Working hard” in this sense includes rest, taking time to listen to your intuition, and self-care.)
- Create a personal mantra. Replace your negative thoughts with a positive, confident rebuttal. Scroll through Instagram and find one that strikes you, write it on a sticky note, and put that in your line of sight. Find one that makes you feel powerful and reassured.
- Create space in your day that is yours and yours alone. Every day. Carving out time for yourself each is day is imperative to your wellbeing because it helps you prepare for all of those other tasks that you need to accomplish. If you don’t fuel up, you’re going to burn out.
Showing up for yourself looks different for everyone based on your own goals and needs. It might change over time, too. What’s most important is to commit to the idea that you are worth showing up for each and every day.
