College Counsellor

Self Care Bingo 

By Geoff McLean

“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Alright, so it’s nearly the end of term. We’ve done the work, it’s time for a break. Maybe your holidays are action-packed, or maybe you have nothing planned. Either way, taking time to take care of yourself is not selfish. 

We often think of self-care as big things we do at the end of the day, the week or the term to reward ourselves. Think bubble baths, going out for dinner, Netflix and takeaway, and finishing a tub of ice cream. While there is a place for these, true self-care should not always be an indulgence. It is about putting in practices and habits each and every day so that we are able to keep showing up tomorrow. 

What does this look like? I have put together a Self-Care bingo to help you out. Over the holidays, print out the scorecard, place it somewhere you can see it and mark off one square every day. Could each family member have a copy and at the dinner table talk about their self-care practice for today? Don’t stop once you score bingo – fill up the whole chart! 

Tomorrow is a new day - what one thing will you do to prioritise your wellbeing?