Building Your Personal Self-Care Inventory
Star Trek's Jean-Luc Picard is no stranger to trauma. He was assimilated by the Borg (TNG: The Best of Both Worlds). He was tortured by Cardassians (TNG: Chain of Command). He's been in countless life or death situations, and he's had to make decisions that determine the life or death of his crew just as many times.
But one thing I absolutely love about Picard and his portrayal throughout Star Trek: The Next Generation and beyond are his self-care habits. We often think of self-care as meditation, mindfulness, or therapy, but your hobbies, your daily rituals, your exercise routines, and more also qualify as self-care.
Let's continue this study of Picard. His love of Early Grey tea is practically ritualistic. He is a voracious reader, with a particular appreciation for the classics such as Shakespeare. He rides horses, plays the Ressikan flute, and dabbles in amateur archaeology.
It's important to keep in mind the power of hobbies when you think about your own self-care routine. Finding and understanding what brings you joy is one of the most profound ways to truly care for yourself.
