Really. It's true.
When you think about self care, is your first thought "I'm being selfish"? Somehow, we've been conditioned to carry that guilt. The running dialogue in our heads of "I need to do this, before I do that. When I finish these tasks, I'll exercise. When I finish this list, I'll sleep. When I finish this commitment, I'll make take care of me" needs to stop. The bottom line is when we put ourselves last, the people around us don't get the best from us.
Self-care is done with the intention of caring for yourself, not with the intention to harm or take from others. Being selfish is different. Selfish people have a desire to take from others, often to their detriment. However, self-care is about restoring your resources without harming someone else's.
Ultimately, self-care is about filling yourself up so you can be the best spouse, parent, care-taker, friend, employee, boss and person that you can be. Selfishness, on the other hand, is a me-first attitude determining just how much you can get for yourself (often, at the expense of others).
But, how do you do it? Obviously, we provide services we'd be happy to offer you, but here's a short list of no-expense things you can try:
Get some alone time. It's okay to take a breather when things get stressful
Talk to a friend. A chat (or venting session) can help reduce stress
Hang out with four-legged, furry and fuzzy creatures
It's okay to say no
Get some fresh air
Unplug
Eat well
Move. Dance, run, lift weights, walk, whatever you enjoy doing as long as it's physical