Self-Care is a Joke (That We Need to Take Seriously)

For so many of us, the idea of self-care is a joke. And for good reason. There are literally not enough hours in the day to do what's "required" of us, let alone take a break to focus on ourselves.

Rather than telling you why you need to make time, this episode offers validation. And some tangible takeaways that are actually doable! 

The Odyssey: Parenting. Caregiving. Disability. 

The Center for Family Involvement at VCU School of Education's Partnership for People with Disabilities provides informational and emotional support to people with disabilities and their families. All of our services are free. We just want to help. We know how hard this can be because we're in it with you. 

SHOW NOTES:

Carolyn Hax is the syndicated advice columnist with The Washington Post mentioned in this epsidoe. 

 

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TRANSCRIPT:

01:00:06:24 - 01:00:34:24
Erin Croyle
Welcome to the Odyssey. Parenting. Caregiving. Disability. I'm Erin Croyle, the creator and host. The Odyssey podcast explores the turn our lives take when a loved one has a disability. My seismic shift came when my first child was born with Down's Syndrome in 2010. I've been going virtually nonstop ever since I joined the center for Family Involvement at Lucas Partnership for people with disabilities.

01:00:34:24 - 01:01:03:14
Erin Croyle
A few years after he was born. Utilizing my journalism and TV producer skills as a communications specialist, a topic that comes up time and time again in my work and my life is self-care. And for good reason. If you ask a parent who's also the primary caregiver in their family their thoughts on self-care, you'll probably get an eyeroll or a laugh or a stare down that feels like daggers shooting right through you.

01:01:03:16 - 01:01:30:08
Erin Croyle
The reality is, for so many of us, the idea of self-care is a joke. So rather than me talking about how important it is and why you should prioritize it, I'm going to break down why self-care is practically impossible. Instead of the usual self-care gaslighting, it's time for some validation as to why we either can't seem to make it happen or suffer when we do.

01:01:30:10 - 01:01:41:09
Erin Croyle
And maybe offer some practical, attainable ways to take care of you.

01:01:41:11 - 01:02:06:19
Erin Croyle
Real talk as usual. I actually have an interview with our mental health specialist, Patrice Behar that's in the can that I can't wait to share with you. And I've got a few other interviews that I can't wait to line up and do, and, I mean, I say this over and over again because it's true. Things are just relentless in my life, and I know that I'm not alone in that.

01:02:06:21 - 01:02:34:23
Erin Croyle
In the past month, I did a talk about self-care to, caregivers in Ohio, where I'm from. Shout out. Represent. Love that state. Even though it's the butt of so many jokes, especially with my, Gen Z Gen Alpha kiddos. Anyway, what kept resonating with me is I was like, struggling. Finding time to edit