Why self-care is important

"Nourishing yourself in a way that helps you blossom in the direction you want to go is attainable, and you are worth the effort. " – Deborah Day

Self-care can mean something different to everyone who practices it, but most can agree, it is essential. Some define it as daily rituals and habits to provide balance, so you can conquer what life throws at you. Others use it simply for stress management. The beautiful thing is anything you claim to be self-care, is self-care! The forms of this self-loving act are endless. Common myths about it: self-care is selfish, it’s just about pampering yourself or it’s just for women. You should never feel selfish or guilty about caring for yourself. EVEN if that happens to be pampering yourself! Our mental bodies and physical bodies go through so much, every single day. Take the time, even for a few minutes, to check in and note how you feel. There are many areas of self-care and everyone priorities them differently. The major ones include emotional, mental, physical, spiritual, relationship and work. Everyone, men and women, should have their own self-care regimen to make their day-to-day lives a little easier. Going too long without checking-in or giving yourself a moment to catch up, can cause burn out. When we neglect one of these areas of our lives, it puts more weight on the other areas. For me personally, when my mental health needs some attention, it shows in my physical body.

Finding the balance between work and life is often difficult for us but you must not neglect yourself!

The benefits to practicing self-care

Find balance in all areas of your life

Increases productivity

Reduce or manage stress and anxiety

Longevity in our bodies

Boosts immune system

Increase self-awareness

Encourages motivation

Examples of self-care

Meditation

Saying affirmations

Setting goals

Going to the gym

Going for a walk or run

Getting lunch with a close friend

Reading your favorite book

Scheduling a spa day

Find alone time

Attending church

Writing or painting, to release creative energy

Going to therapy

Attending a yoga class

Committing to your work-out plan

Practicing good hygiene

Eating healthy

Saying “no” to what does not serve you

Keeping the mind positive is a major key to effective self-care.

The list could truly go on forever. Some categories of self-care overlap one another, benefiting more than just one area. For example, going to the gym can be beneficial to your physical and mental health. The same goes for practicing good hygiene or eating healthy, both physical and mental self-care. Though your physical body and mental health are extremely important to care for, so is having balance. Tom Rath and Jim Harter wrote a book called Well Being: The Five Essential Elements. They break down the areas as: career, social, financial, physical and community well-being. They dive into why balance among all these areas, is important for a lifetime of well-being. They did not include psychological health (mental, emotional, even spiritual), which I would say is just as important. Balance is crucial to your overall well-being and helps prevent the burnt-out feeling we may feel.

— My personal forms of self-care are going for a walk, enjoying wine with close friends, eating foods that make my body feel good, taking a relaxing bubble bath and receiving regular massage. Just remember self-care is self-love, and you deserve it. "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. " – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Resources http://socialwork.buffalo.edu/resources/self-care-starter-kit/introduction-to-self-care.html http://www.wbfinder.com/content/125366/Book.aspx https://www.habitsforwellbeing.com/what-is-self-care/ https://www.moneycrashers.com/self-care-definition-tips-ideas/