In today’s fast-paced world filled with deadlines, responsibilities, and endless to-do lists, finding time for self-care can seem like a luxury we can’t afford. It can feel like we are juggling so many things at once that self-care fails to be a priority. However, prioritising is not a luxury but a necessity for maintaining balance and well-being in the midst of life’s chaos. It’s not selfish to put some time aside for ourselves. It actually encourages you to maintain a healthy relationship with yourself. How can you give to others what you don’t give to yourself? Attending your physical, emotional, and mental needs can have numerous benefits, including feelings of fulfilment, higher energy levels, coping with stress better, and an improved mood, just to name a few. Making these things a priority allows us to be more present and productive. There’s only positives to be gained through doing this, and it’s one of the best things we can do for ourselves.
Setting boundaries is crucial for self-care because it allows you to prioritise your well-being and protect your mental and physical energy. By establishing boundaries, you can define what is acceptable and what is not in your interactions and commitments. This helps prevent feelings of overwhelm, reduces stress, and ensures that you have the time and space to focus on activities that nurture and support your overall health and happiness. Boundaries also help maintain a healthy work-life balance, promote self-respect, and contribute to better relationships with others. For example, if you have been asked to do overtime for your workplace, it’s important to set boundaries on how much time you give, otherwise some places will just keep expecting it, or you’ll feel guilty for not doing it, and then before you know it, it can take over your life. By using clear communication and mutual understanding of personal limits and needs, this will also help improve boundaries.
Time management is also a very important factor when it comes to self-care. If you can’t schedule time for yourself, then it can start becoming a problem. By effectively managing your time, you can ensure that you allocate time slots for things such as exercise, relaxation, or hobbies. Putting time aside for things you enjoy, this can help prevent burnout and reduce stress but also investment in your overall health and happiness. Not only that, but it also helps you rest. How you would book an appointment for like a doctor or dentist, etc, book an appointment for yourself for self-care, even if it’s just for half an hour. I think we also have to look at how we are using our time day to day and what we are wasting our time on, or spending more time than we need to on. Maybe instead of having a designated day to clean, you set your timer on your phone for 30 mins each day and set yourself tasks you want to get done in that time. It all contributes to more time for yourself.
Another thing to put into practice is introducing yourself to stress management techniques. These techniques could include breathing exercises, mindfulness practices, or physical activities that can help reduce stress levels and promote well-being. There are plenty of mindfulness journals out there, and they are really good, I did have one called 5 minutes a day that I used to fill out in the mornings. One thing I have failed at doing for this year was writing down one thing each day that was positive and also to give myself a compliment each day, because I do believe there is a positive you can get out each day no matter how bad it is. The compliment a day was something I gave up in, I think, like a week. It was something I struggled to do, and I just failed at it. Who knows, maybe I’ll give it another go again. Exercise is always good for the mood as well. It may feel like a chore to start off with, but afterwards, you just instantly feel happier and like you’ve achieved something.
Rest and relaxation are important for rejuvenating the mind and body and something we should never underestimate the value of. It gives us a chance to reset and recharge and gives ourselves a break from constant stimulation. It can also help with things like boosting your immune system and overall physical health. How you can achieve this is by doing a lower impact hobby such as reading, or going for a leisurely walk which is something I used to do a lot of where I used to live as there was lots of countryside routes. There’s so many benefits to getting a bit of fresh air. Listening to music is also something that helps me unwind, I would be lost without it. Sleep is very important and probably something quite a few people struggle with getting, myself included. Like you had when you were a child, a bedtime routine can be very useful for this, and something I could improve on as mine is all over the place. If you can nail that, then it will signal to your body that it’s time to unwind.
Forming healthy habits can also contribute to self-care. Part of that is to do with having a balanced diet and the types of foods we are putting into our body, and let’s be honest, we aren’t all perfect at this. Fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats are all things that can help support your body’s functions and provide essential nutrients. One thing I have been doing in the last few months is taking multi vitamins. Someone actually made a comment to me once saying that’s what olden women take haha, but I don’t care, I work from home so I lack sunlight, I lack iron and a few other things so I’ll just continue doing me and take them. I have noticed a difference since taking them, and I feel like my energy levels have risen as well, so I do recommend them. Lastly making sure you are staying hydrated can also contribute and again, I admit I am really not good at doing this especially when I’m working as I always think to myself “I’ll just get this done and then I will have a drink.”
Remember self-care isn’t selfish, it’s necessary. Take a moment for yourself, whether it’s a walk, a hobby, or simply just some quiet time. Your well-being matters and deserve to prioritise yourself.
Amy x
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