Self-care is one of the most commoditized and overused phrases in the self-help industry. The market is saturated with articles and practices for restoring yourself when life is out of balance.
During the Covid-19 pandemic it was so widely marketed it became a trend focusing on consumerism and superficial practices, never addressing the idea of genuine well-being.
What is Self-Care?
The Oxford dictionary defines self-care as the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one’s health. This is much more than a passing trend – it’s a lifestyle that emphasizes holistic health, mindful decision making and prioritizing your mental well being
In 2025 let’s replace self-care with self-nurturing, resolving to care for ourselves emotionally, mentally, and physically.
Self-Care Sabotage
The event industry is more than a job, it is a passion. It isn’t a nine-to-five gig, and it doesn’t willingly promote work-life balance. In fact, to those of us growing up in this industry, it is a foreign concept. Long hours, nights and weekends and missed holidays are reality.
Good intentions are easy to create and even easier to lose. The world of event management does not consider the personal side of your life. If we aren’t careful, we run the risk of never taking the comp time we’re owed, letting our days run together until we are exhausted and find ourselves running on empty. We make excuses for the things we miss.
The most common excuses for this flawed thinking are found in the world we work in:
- This is our busy season
- I am a team of one
- There is never a good time for comp time
- My company doesn’t give comp days
- I’m afraid to take time off that isn’t PTO
If you are self-employed, part-time or retired and volunteering, this applies to you as well. You are the Boss and CEO of your time.
Seven Pillars of Self-Care
The seven pillars include: mental, emotional, physical, environmental, spiritual, recreational, and social well-being. A well-balanced and nurturing routine involves each of these but since we’re overworked humans it’s easy to focus on one or two pillars and let the others slide.
There is no perfect balance.
Look at the categories and decide where you need to focus your energy. Sometimes one or two areas demand greater attention because they can and will impact the others.
If it feels overwhelming, choose one area each day or week, making it easier to see and feel your progress. Reward yourself by creating new patterns of behavior that bring stability and equilibrium to yourself and your life.
You are your best advocate for change.
