Behind The Stack: Self Care I Swear By

My nervous system has never been happier

There’s been a lot of noise over the years about whether or not self-care is selfish.

Is it indulgent? Is it biblical? Is it necessary?

But more and more, I think we’ve been asking the wrong questions.

A friend once told me she calls self-care “mothering herself”—and I’ve never forgotten it.

That’s exactly how it feels when I slow down enough to notice what I need, when I tend to my body, my mind, and my soul with kindness. It’s not about checking out or turning inward in a self-absorbed way. It’s about caring for myself so I can keep showing up: to my people, to my calling, to the things that matter, with generosity and joy.

This summer has not been for the faint of heart: I’m soaking up every second I can with my teenage kids, writing one book while preparing to launch another, taking two seminary classes, and trying to stay present and genuine in my real life. I don’t have time for elaborate routines or performative wellness, but I do have time to mother myself in small, intentional ways.

So in light of all that, here’s the self-care I swear by: