How Poetry Can Support Your Self-Care Practice This Self-Care Awareness Month
Happy Self-Care Awareness Month! This month serves as a reminder that you deserve to prioritize your well-being. Although self-care looks differently for everyone, this practice involves caring for your health in a holistic way, usually with a focus on mental and emotional wellness.
Since poetry is a creative medium that encourages self-reflection, poetry and self-care go hand-in-hand. Read on to learn how writing, reading, and listening to poetry can support your self-care practice in simple, accessible ways.
Poetry can help you start and end your day on a positive note
As you customize your self-care practice, consider building a daily rhythm and routine around poetry. Incorporating poetry into your routine can help start and end each day on a positive note and serve as an outlet for creativity.
Whether you listen to spoken word while brushing your teeth, read a collection as you enjoy your breakfast, or write a few poems before ending your day, you can seamlessly integrate this medium into your self-care routine.
Poetry can inspire you to look inward
Poets who create bold, unfiltered work are typically the most resonant, since evocative poetry stems from an honest, self-reflective place.
Practicing effective self-care encourages you to look inward, which can help you determine aspects of your life that require change, supporting your self-care. Consider free writing and allowing your thoughts to flow without overthinking or second guessing. You might be surprised by what realizations come through. Or, check out our mental health and self-care poetry prompts to spark inspiration.
Poetry can encourage you to set goals
Whether you enjoy reading and writing poetry as a hobby or aspire to publish your work professionally, poetry is a craft that you develop over time. You might set multiple goals for yourself, such as checking titles off your to-be-read list or entering poems for publication in literary magazines and journals.
Cultivating this valuable mindset through poetry can easily translate to your self-care practice as well. Setting small, achievable goals is a sustainable way to improve your wellbeing. Whether you want to begin practicing yoga or try other hobbies that support your health, for example, meeting goals can help you feel a sense of accomplishment and confidence throughout your self-care journey.
Poetry can help you find a community
An important component of self-care is surrounding yourself with like-minded, supportive individuals. As a poetry enthusiast, finding a poetic community can provide you with a sense of belonging, inspire your creativity, and help you grow.
Whether you start your own book club with a few friends, join a writers group, enroll in a workshop, or build an online community on Instagram, connecting with others through a shared love for poetry is sure to improve your wellbeing.
Hopefully, this month inspires you to take care of yourself through poetry. For more self-care inspiration, check out our guide on how to start a self-care journal.
