Self-care: More Important Now Than Ever

This year was hard. So hard. At first we had to work like crazy to reschedule all of our clients’ weddings. Next we had to watch our accounts empty as there was no income. We have had the stress and the worries of not knowing when things will change, putting on a happy and calm face to support our couples, our children, our families, friends and loved ones. It has been an incredibly tough year. Now more than ever, you need to give yourself some time and attention.

Wedding and Event Planners are used to taking care of everyone else’s needs. It is who we are, so self-care can feel selfish and indulgent, but it is far from that. Self-care and maintaining a healthy relationship with yourself and your body, makes you a better and more productive planner. It is necessary for your own sense of self-worth. It produces happy and positive feelings that transmit to others, boosts your self-confidence and self-esteem by showing others that yourself and others that your needs are important too.

Here are some ideas of things you can do to take care of you:

Be Creative

We are creative people, not having an outlet right now can take a serious toll on our well-being. You can express yourself and your creativity through: painting; creating a craft (making jewelry, crochet, knitting); writing some blogs; setting up tablescapes and taking photos; setting up flat lays and taking photos; creating saying graphics on Canva; creating Tip or Info videos on Reels; putting together a Styled Shoot; really anything that flexes your creative and design muscles. Not only might you discover a new hobby, but many of the creative things you do can be shared on your Social Media pages to let potential clients know you are still there, and are as creative as ever, because not many of us have new content to share.

Conduct a Social Media Purge

Get rid of the people that you are following that just suck the life out of you! You know who I’m talking about, the people in your industry that you KNOW are lying or putting up a fake front. The people who are constantly being negative or condescending. The people who are always jumping on a new band wagon. If your blood pressure starts to raise or someone’s very presence on your feed irks you, either unfollow them, or hide them from your feed. Do not give them the power to steal your inner peace.

Take a Social Media Break or at Least Limit Yourself

Social Media can actually be very draining and wreak havoc on your self-esteem. People only put their very best on Social Media (and a lot are total fakes). You can’t help but compare yourself to them, and you aren’t always going to measure up to the perfection they are showcasing. Give yourself and your mental health a break by putting the phone down, just stop scrolling. Put yourself on a schedule, “I have this amount of time to look at social media, and nothing more.” Definitely do not look at social media right before bed, not only does the blue light mess with your sleep patterns and strain your eyes, but social media can induce stress and anxiety. Instead of scrolling or watching videos, read a book to let your mind rest.

Write in a journal

Sometimes putting pen to paper is just what you need to stop focusing on negative or anxiety-inducing feelings. Writing down your thoughts and feelings can help you to understand them more clearly, gain control of your emotions, and improve your mental health.

Some other benefits of journaling are:

• Setting goals and having accountability to those goals
• A place to log your great ideas
• A place to self-reflect
• It can help boost your memory
• Provides a record of your day-to-day life
• It can be way to help you organize your thoughts

Journaling can be very cathartic (Catharsis: a purification or purge of emotions through art Merriam-Webster).

Take a luxurious bath

Going for pampering is not in the cards right now, but there is nothing stopping you from creating a spa experience at home. Why not light a candle, pour yourself a glass of wine, add essential oils or bath bubbles or Epsom salts to the water, turn on some beautiful music, maybe bring a good book, and just soak? This is my number one self-care routine. I spend hours soaking the day away, I even asked for a special bath tray and bath items for Christmas.

Make yourself a specialty coffee or tea

Self-care doesn’t have to be a big thing, it can be little things that give you joy. I love a good cappuccino or latte, so I got a great espresso machine and frother a few months ago. I always have flavoured syrups on hand and make myself what feels like a special indulgence every day.

Take a walk

You don’t have to go for a big hike (though that is a great idea too), but a simple walk around your neighbourhood can be very restorative to you. The exercise creates happy endorphins in your body, helps clear your mind, and the sun gives you some natural Vitamin D.

Take your Multivitamins and Vitamin D

This tip comes from my doctor. He says right now, absolutely everyone should be taking a multivitamin and a Vitamin D supplement every day. For those of us experiencing Winter, we are not getting enough natural Vitamin D right now.

Meditate for 5 minutes

When was the last time you were just still? Meditating can lower stress-levels, help ground you, improve your focus, and put you more in touch with your body, by noticing any aches or pain.

If you have never meditated before, all you need to do is:

1. Sit in a comfortable position,
2. Eliminate any distractions,
3. Maybe set a timer for 5-10 minutes,
4. Close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Concentrate on inhaling and exhaling, if your mind starts to wander, go back to focusing on inhaling and exhaling.
5. When your 5-10 minutes is up, open your eyes and think about how you feel.

Hopefully this article will inspire you to give yourself a little care. Not only will you reduce your stress, sleep better, improve your outlook and focus, but you will look better and feel better. Giving yourself some love will make you happier, and that will make those around you happier as well.