Have you seen people who seem to go at full speed with work, family and commitments without a break? Some people are able to this and appear as thou everything is just fine but statistically, if our lives remain on full speed ahead, eventually we break down. Eventually, change will be required. Today we are going to talk about self-care and why it matters.
What is Self-Care?
Self-care can be defined as individuals looking after their own health using the knowledge and information available to them. It is a decision-making process that empowers individuals to look after their own health efficiently and conveniently, in collaboration with health and social care professionals as needed. This definition is according to Global self-care federation. So, in short, self-care is when we decide that taking care of our needs is necessary and we make time in our schedule to do so. Self-care can look so different for each of us because we each enjoy different things. What are activities that are considered self-care? Take a look below. Can you see why self-care matters?
- Nutrition improvements
- Proper hydration
- Physical movement
- Rest and sleep
- Limiting social media and screen time
- Meditation
- Journaling
- Walking with a friend
- Connection with people
- Massage, pedicure or spa visit
Recognizing when our bodies have a need is important. Being willing to adjust your schedule to include a self-care option matters for our long-term health. Just like any machinery or tool, our bodies require maintenance and upkeep. If we aren’t willing to maintain our bodies, we can expect breakdowns. What self-care suggestion sounds the best to you right now? Will you make the time to do it?
Why does Self-Care Matter?
The affects that can take place when we choose to not fit self-care into our lives can be damaging. Some see self-care as selfish, but I would like to propose a perspective. For everything you have in your life that depends on you, you can only give back what you give. If we continue to give of ourselves but have not means to replenish or restore, we eventually find that we have to give isn’t much. We can find ourselves in need of more than just self-care. Below are symptoms that can occur when we neglect self-care.
- Low energy
- Lack of motivation to participate in events
- Less patience
- Challenges or stress in relationships
- Increased headaches, stomach issues or other physical symptoms
- Experiencing burnout
- Sleep issues
- Worsening mental health
While there are other issues that can cause these symptoms, if you recognize that you lack self-care and you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms, I encourage you to commit to one avenue of self-care. Self-care really matters and helps us be our very best selves.
How Do I Begin Self-Care?
I get it. Reading a blog like this one can feel overwhelming. Especially if your life is full of responsibility or you don’t yet see a way to squeeze in self-care. Try to take one step at a time. Begin by taking a deep breath and decide what self-care action you would like to take. Write that down and think about how much time you may need for the choice. Below are creative ways that could help you find the time, if time or resources are hard for you. For example, if you have small children, or a family, or maybe you are a single parent. Finding time for yourself could be hard. Look at the suggestions below to see if any of these could work for you.
- Ask for help from family
- Discuss your need with a friend, ask them to swap nights of baby sitting
- Talk to a friend about your need, don’t be afraid to ask for help
- Is there a self-help activity that has childcare
- if possible, discuss your need with your partner and ask for support
Taking a step is what is important. It may be, at times, more difficult to partake in the self-care option you desire. Try to keep an open mind and remember that self-care is the goal. Practicing gratitude for any time you get to replenish yourself can only help. After all, our mindset is powerful, so let’s keep it positive and keep our eyes on the next activity we can partake in. Remember, self-care matters and so does our attitude toward it. Upstate Restorative Counseling is here to listen and help you work through your next step. Contact us today, you are not alone.
