Redefining “Self-Care” For The HSP

Redefining “Self-Care” for the Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) often begins with renaming the term altogether.

Credit: my wonderful HSP summer camp cohort came up with some juicy alternative terminology for “self-care.” See the list below:

Feeling Your Feelings Time
Nervous-System Tending
Overstimulation Prevention
Essential Downtime
Honoring Your Divinity
Homeostasis Maintenance
A Time For Only What Energizes Me
Back to Basics Time
Energetic Preservation
A Nurturing of the Self
De-Stimulation Time
An Embodiment of the Inner Animal
Healthy Dissociation & Escapism
A Time When Our Actions Don’t Need to Mean Something
An Inner-Child Date
PLAY

Why did I want to find alternative terminology for “self-care”? A few reasons. First—the term is so overused nowadays that it’s lost its meaning for me. “Self-Care” undoubtedly (and unfortunately) carries an underlying tone of consumerism that often leaves me feeling like I need to spend money or post on instagram in order to “prove” that I care for myself. Second—when you have no idea how to care for yourself or what your nervous system needs, “self-care” can become another thing that you’re doing “wrong.”

Personally—I like to think of self-care in a bunch of different ways. I’ve been clicking with “nervous-system tending” a lot lately.

And when it comes to nervous-system tending for the HSP—I think it’s important to recognize that this act could look completely different for the HSP than the non-HSP. Recently, I’ve admitted to myself that I need more “daily maintenance” than the non-HSP. And I suspect the same to be true with most other HSPs. It’s not because we’re “extra,” but rather because our nervous systems require specialized care. So don’t let anyone make you feel high-maintenance for needing energetic upkeep. It’s only because you’ve got some extra magick inside of ya.

So #highlysensitivepeople , tell me how you’re redefining self-care below in the comments! ⬇️ I would love to hear your stories.