Mindfulness & Self-Care: What We Can Learn from Yitro
In this week’s parsha, Yitro, Moshe’s father-in-law visits and notices that Moshe is working tirelessly—listening to the people’s problems, answering their questions, and offering guidance from morning until night. Concerned for Moshe’s well-being, Yitro warns him that taking on so much alone will only wear him out. He advises Moshe to delegate responsibilities to the elders, allowing them to assist with the people's concerns.
How many of us struggle to ask for help or delegate tasks when we feel overwhelmed? Do we even recognize when we are overwhelmed?
One of the most valuable lessons we can take from this story is the importance of self-care—not just as an occasional luxury, but as an essential practice for taking care of ourselves.
Mindfulness and Self-Care
Self-care is an integral part of mindfulness. Practicing mindfulness helps us become more aware of what we are feeling and thinking at any given moment. With that awareness, we can choose how to respond—whether to take a short break, continue what we’re doing, or shift our focus to something else.
Creating a self-care plan allows us to identify our needs, both in everyday life and during particularly stressful or challenging times. It helps us balance our emotional and physical well-being and make intentional choices about how to care for ourselves.
How to Create a Self-Care Plan
According to Shelly Tygielski, founder of America Meditates, we can create a self-care plan by following these steps:
1️⃣ List the key areas of your life—work, family, friendships, health, fitness, spirituality, or any other priorities.
2️⃣ Set personal goals—for example, spending more time with friends, incorporating mindfulness into your routine, or making time for physical activity.
3️⃣ Identify potential obstacles—what might get in the way of following through on your plan? Acknowledge these challenges so you can prepare for them.
4️⃣ Seek support—share your plan with a trusted friend who can offer encouragement and accountability.
5️⃣ Practice regularly—just as an athlete trains for an event, we need to commit to self-care as an ongoing practice rather than a one-time effort.
The best way to start or maintain a mindfulness practice is to join a course or group and practice together, as well as receiving guidance from a teacher.
Most importantly, be kind to yourself—change takes time, and self-care is a journey, not a destination.
If Moshe Rabenu could accept help and practice self-care, so can we.
I would love to help you in your journey of self-care and wellness.
Join me in my next mindfulness course in Jerusalem.
