Do You Do Self-Care?

Self-care means taking care of not only your physical and nutritional needs, but also your emotional well-being. We all need time to relax and do things that make us calm and happy.

As a mother of two children, there was hardly any time to be by myself (if you know, you know 😉). So when someone first mentioned self-care to me, I dismissed it immediately, saying that I simply did not have time for it, especially as a working mum. I mean, who has time to take half a day off for shopping or to watch a movie?

But I was told that it does not have to take a whole day or even half a day. It can be as simple as enjoying your morning coffee alone, without distractions.

I decided to give it a try. One day, I dropped the boys off at school a little earlier, then went to a nearby café for coffee and breakfast. All I did was have a quiet meal, scroll through social media for a bit, and enjoy the peace. It only took 20 minutes, but I felt completely recharged.

You would be surprised at what it does for you. After including small moments of self-care in my routine, I find myself happier, and my family is definitely happier too.

Tip: Start Small

Begin with just 15 to 30 minutes of self-care, then slowly lengthen the time if you need to. It could be a weekly jog, or like me, simply having breakfast in peace. Do not worry if you miss a day or two. Self-care is not about perfection, but about giving yourself the space to rest and recharge.

This article is written by Jaslyn Toh, Centre for Fathering. Feel free to contact us at engage@fathers.com.sg if you have questions about DADs for Life and MUMs for Life workshops, events, and initiatives.

Food for Thought:
What is one small thing you can do this week to care for yourself and recharge your energy?