What To Do When Self Care is No Longer Enough

There are just some things that even the best self care routine cannot fix. I mean think about it: we, as women, juggle everything from work and our careers to family, taking care of the home, children, and the list goes on.

If you’re like most women, even the times of fully being able to relax and take care of yourself come in spurts, as you balance self care with all the other things on your to do list.

And what about when self care starts to feel like a chore, or something you have to cross off the list?

Enter community care: the idea that none of us can really do this thing called life alone and women need to stick together! Rather than withdrawing from others when you are feeling overwhelmed or behind your life schedule, reach out! Then, when someone needs some encouragement or a spark of hope, be that for them too.

While self care says I’m taking care of me for me, community care says we are taking care of one another so that we can all be stronger, together.

How to Leverage the Power of Community Care in Your Life

So your step care routine isn’t cutting it, now what? Feeling connected to a community in a time when we are more socially distant can be tough. Here are 3 ways to connect with other women and get the community care you need.

1 —

Be what you need for others.

We’ve all heard the saying ‘Be the change you want to see’ and it couldn’t be more true. If you need a friend, be a friend. If you need encouraging, encourage someone else. You will always reap what you sow, and while it might be a challenge at first, putting others first will attract people to you that do the same.

2 —

Find ways to connect outside of your normal routine.

Going to events or venturing out in your local neighborhood are both ways to seek out the community that you crave. Sometimes what we need is right where we are, we just need to open our eyes to see it. Look for ways to get out of your comfort zone and connect with other women in ways that feel authentic to you, and you will benefit well beyond that one instance.

3 —

Be honest with others about who you are and what you need.

The only way others can show up for you is if you are 100% honest with them. Yes, that requires vulnerability and transparency, which are both beautiful processes. We are all healing and growing simultaneously and the more that we can hold space for both to coexist, the more we give others permission to do the same.

Think about this: how many times have you went through something and then after some time, finally opened up to someone about it and they replied that they have had a similar situation?

In those moments when we are so focused on ourselves, it can feel like we are all alone, but when we open up to others, it is a powerful reminder that none of us look like what we’ve been through and we are all facing mountains that are easier to overcome together.