Episode 33: Own Your You Framework: Practicing Self Care

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Hello and welcome back to another episode of the Own Your Confidence Podcast. I'm Ellie, and I'm thrilled to continue our series on the Own Your You Signature Framework. In the previous episodes, we explored rediscovering your true self and cultivating self-love and confidence. Today, we're shifting our focus to the external aspect of self-care.

Do You Feel Unworthy of Taking Care of Yourself?

From a young age, I was bombarded with images of perfectly put-together women in magazines and on social media. It made me question my own ability to care for myself. However, through my personal journey and work with clients, I've realized that self-care is about treating myself with love and compassion, rather than trying to fix perceived flaws. 

Defining Your Needs

As we embark on a journey of self-discovery and building confidence, it's crucial to identify and understand our individual needs. Often, we may have been neglecting our own needs for a significant portion of our lives. I used to go to a certain friend for emotional support but I quickly learned that we did not speak the same emotional language. When I realized this I stop going to her for emotional support and it helped our relationship. Learning what your needs are in the following areas of self care can help you create different self care routines that support you. Physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, and social needs all contribute to your self care and help you meet your needs! 

Building Successful (Customized) Self-Care Routines

Building effective self-care routines is a gradual process that requires self-awareness and customization. I used to think self care meant I needed to be doing what other people were doing. I read online that successful people wake up at 5 AM so for years I would try to wake up at 5 AM (even though I am a night owl) and then I would beat myself up over it when I "failed." I realized that it should be tailored to my own preferences and needs. You also can implement habit stacking when trying to practice a new self care activity. When you are already doing one of your self care activities stack the new activity either before it or after it so you can remember to implement it. It is also really importance of embracing self-compassion and allowing yourself to modify or let go of activities that don't resonate with you.

Self-care is a lifelong skill that evolves as we grow and change. It's a continuous journey of self-discovery, understanding our needs, and implementing routines that align with our true selves. Remember, self-compassion is key throughout this process. If you're interested in diving deeper into this topic, check out our Own Your Self-Care Workbook, designed to help you create personalized self-care routines and track your progress. Sending you love and wishing you a fantastic week ahead.

XO,

Ellie Curry