Sir John Kirwan is a big believer in self-care. He makes sure he does simple, powerful things to recharge his batteries every single day.
Here are his top 5 self-care strategies. We hope you’ll find something you can add to your own self-care toolbox.
The simple pleasure of a warm shower can do wonders for your mood, especially if you practice mindfulness.
“Instead of thinking about the past or future, I feel the water,” says Sir JK.
“I don’t think about anything else but that moment.”
Sir JK discovered this self-care tip after his mum advised him to “start again with the simple things”. Sometimes, going back to basics is exactly what your mind, body, and soul needs.
“I love my coffee,” says Sir JK, and he really means it. He sees every cup of coffee as an invitation to pause, observe his surroundings, and really savour the taste and experience.
“If I’m at a cafe, I put my phone away, I put my head up, and I look around. If I’m at home, I enjoy making one.”
Whether your favourite hot drink is coffee, tea, chai, or anything else, take a moment to really enjoy each sip.
Sir JK has an active mind and a busy life. Walking slowly is an opportunity for him to slow down and appreciate things he might have otherwise missed.
“You just see things! You see people, you see birds, you see trees,” he says.
Next time you’re out walking, see what happens when you slow down. What do you see? How does your mind feel?
Three of Sir JK’s favourite things to do are to read, cook, and surf. He tries to do at least one of these things every single day.
“I need to read, or cook, or surf. If I can’t surf, I can cook. If I can’t cook, I can read!”
Notice how he reframes these as ‘needs’ instead of ‘wants’. For Sir JK, doing something enjoyable is a daily non-negotiable, not a nice-to-have, because of the powerful impact this has on his mental health.
Having something to look forward to can make even the most difficult days feel that much brighter.
Sir JK says he finds things to put in his “goody bag” – a mental list of things he knows he will enjoy in the near future.
For example, some days he looks forward to cooking an exciting meal from scratch, or going for a walk with his wife, or playing the guitar.
He fills up his goody bag every day so he always has something enjoyable on the horizon.
Sir JK’s approach to self-care is a reminder that it doesn’t need to be expensive or time-consuming. Never underestimate the simple power of a shower or a cup of coffee. How could you reclaim five minutes of your day for yourself?