Are you totally neglecting self care and feeling burnt out? Then sit back and give this a read. Self-care is not all about bubble baths and expensive spa days (though let’s be real, we LOVE those days). But the definition of Self-care is simply “any activity that we do deliberately in order to take care of our mental, emotional, and physical health” That’s it.

With that said, self-care is different for everyone, because only you know how to take care of your mental, emotional, and physical health. It’s going to take a little soul searching to figure out which self-care practices work best for you, but in order to do that, you have to understand what self-care truly is. Understand that self-care should be something you enjoy doing, and know that self-care doesn’t have to be complicated, time-consuming, or expensive!

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, we asked a few of our REV instructors what self-care meant to them.

Barbara: Self-care can look very different depending on the season or situation I am in. Working full time and also teaching classes that I pour a lot of emotion and energy into often leave me feeling "empty" in many ways. For me, I started making it a conscious priority to "feed myself". I feel like a lot of my days are dedicated to feeding others, so I look at self-care as how I feed myself. I am constantly reading and listening to books and podcasts that inspire me-I feel the most alive and the most full when I am inspired and encouraged-this allows me to better inspire and encourage others. I try to surround myself with people and ideas that elevate me so that I am full and ready to take on anything! When I am not teaching or playlisting or reading... self-care for me is also very tangible. I could be a face mask, some trashy TV, a pizza, a walk to my favorite coffee shop or boutique. I am a very regimented routine-oriented person, so at the end of the day, once I have fed others and fed myself, I like to turn my brain off for a little bit and indulge in things that make me feel good. A great movie/tv show, a face mask, a glass of wine, some cheese, prosciutto and a baguette is my ideal recipe 🙂

Charlotte: There’s a common perception out there that self-care is selfish. Basically, if you spend time alone, or time taking care of yourself, you’re neglecting everyone else in your life. I fall guilty to this! I am always thinking about how others feel, and putting the needs of others before my own. The problem with this is that eventually, it starts taking a toll on my overall well-being. Then I find myself feeling stressed, burnout, or overwhelmed. How am I supposed to truly be there for the people I love if I’m feeling this way? Ultimately, it’s totally fine to take time for yourself because you are your priority and you deserve it. Shoot, you deserve it even more if you’re always going out of your way for others and helping those who need it. Reward yourself (maybe with a slice of za) for all the amazing things that you do by practicing self-care.

Lamar: Honestly, for me, it’s either shutting everything off (work, family, friends) and resting, or.... working out/taking a spin class.

Hannah: I started seeing a therapist about 6 months ago. It's literally been the best thing I've ever done for myself. I had never gone as an adult and was honestly kind of nervous about it. I talked about going for years but just never did. I finally had a breaking point and made an appointment. I will probably be in therapy for the rest of my life (even if "things are good"). I truly believe everyone could benefit from seeing a therapist regularly!!

Josh: Write it out. I do a gratitude list and journal every morning. Visualizing what I'm grateful for. And the next thing is getting anxiety out of my head. Putting to paper what's in my head. So I can move on. Also, I spin! I go into a dark room where nobody can reach me and I make weird awesome noises and faces to push me through and walk out better and stronger. If all else fails, I take a walk and listen to music.

We at REV think it’s important to come up with a short (even just 10 minutes) self-care ritual that you can practice a few times a week. A simple ritual that you’ll look forward to because it’s your time to unwind. This can be anything. For example, burn some incense or diffuse essential oils (lavender is great for calming down!), take a kick-ass spin or barre class at REV, read a chapter of a good book, brew a cup of tea, or just relax. Enjoy it, enjoy every minute of it. We only have one life, so prioritize yourself. It’s as simple as that.

Tags: REVtribe, REVWellness, Self Care