Anastasia shares her practical guide and life lessons and accompanies you to a rewarding journey to self-care. Self-care isn't selfish. Just the opposite, we are at our best when we embrace self-compassion, self-forgiveness and self-love. Our mental, physical, spiritual and emotional wellbeing all hinge on a well-rounded self-care practice. Simple Self-Care is a practical guide to reclaim the parts of yourself you've neglected or judged unkindly; to accept and heal pain from the past; and to step into your power as you look to the future. With powerful words and hard-won life lessons, Anastasia Charisiou is your companion along the life-changing, sometimes uncomfortable but infinitely rewarding journey to self-care. If you're listening to this, you're taking the first step towards a life of authenticity, purpose and connection – and you deserve no less.
Simple Self-care is a good reminder of the small things that I can do to apply self-care properly into my own life. The book is centered on self reflection so as to appeal specifically to my individual self-care needs. It really helped me take a step back and look at all the small ways I can care for myself better after dealing with a bit of an identity crisis. I would recommend this book to all those trying to find themselves again, anyone who feels stressed or overwhelmed with the complexities of life and anyone who wants to change to feel happier.
Here are some passages I liked from the book; "Self-care is about identifying your own specific needs and following steps to meet them. If we do not take care of ourselves, we run the risk of wasting time and energy on other activities that deprive us emotionally, mentally or physically." (Charisiou, pp.21-22) "You can only be the best support to your friend and the best colleague for your team by being your best: that in itself is a selfless act, not a selfish one."(Charisiou, p.22) "Your name is yours alone. Your company is not your home or church or lifeline. People won't remember the pay you earned, the hours you worked or the jacket you wore last week, but they will remember your kindness, your proactivity, your interests and your laugh. They'll remember you for all the goodness you brought somewhere simply being you, but goodness cannot exist in a vacuum nor can it be made from a career." (Charisiou, pp.130,131). "Instead of worrying if you are exercising enough or beating yourself up for not doing so, take a moment to breathe and ask yourself in the moment: how do I feel now? What is something that can help me move through this feeling? maybe it's a walk, maybe it's a run, maybe it's simply getting some sleep. Whatever it is, focus on the feeling, rather than the look."(Charisiou, p. 151)
Reflections and lessons learned: “Self care is not selfish, it’s survival…”
I read quite a few books on this subject, so this was very good, but didn’t feel like anything new - a timely reminder though how diet, exercise and breathing are three of the easiest and most important elements though. A great book with a friendly narrator for anyone wanting a good starting point
The first thing that impressed me with this book was the fact that it didn’t jump straight into giving suggestions on what type of self-care we can do for ourselves, but firstly explained what self-care is, why it’s important for us and who may need self-care.
As individuals we have completely different needs: emotional, physical, mental and spiritual. Effective self-care is different for each person and will look different from moment to moment.
The book covered various areas of self-care including that of personal development, financial well-being, healthy self dialogue, healthy practices, relationships and much more. Rather than trying to recommend specific suggestions, it looks at explaining what these different areas of self-care are and why they are important, moving into giving a few simple suggestions of how we can incorporate self-care into these areas of our lives.
I think it is important to take suggestions with a grain of salt, not everything is going to work for everyone and it is important to pick, choose and adapt care that we know will work for us.
‘When we fall in love with ourselves the same we fight to stay in love with somebody else, we make a personal declaration that we are worthy, and we are enough.’
I really enjoyed this book. it wasn't a difficult read and had some very good advice. I particularly liked how the author didn't tell you how to do it but strategies for better self care and the barriers/stereotypes associated with self care.