Self-care is self preservation. If you want balance between your work life and home life self care is necessary. If you are lacking time for yourself and your relationships and you have more stress than you know what to do with, self care is the solution.
When you decide to ignore your needs there can be tragic consequences. When you lack self care you can become depressed. Health issues can arise and your self-confidence can decline. Relationship problems may surface and in worst case scenarios, some people choose to commit suicide.
You might say that taking care of yourself requires time, time that you don’t have. The truth of the matter is, when you take care of yourself you find more time! Time to look at some of the benefits of self care so you can avoid burning out.
Benefits of Self Care:
Better Focus
More Energy
More Creative
More Free Time
More Self Confidence
Increased Productivity
Improved Health and Fitness
More Fulfilling Relationships
Increased Work/Life Satisfaction
Self care is needed when people are experiencing long work hours and highly stressful situations. In short, all people need to become self care experts! When you pay attention to your needs you will see how you can enjoy more free time without sacrificing your career responsibilities.
Sometimes people believe that in order to excel in their careers AND have fulfilling relationships they must ignore their own needs. They lose touch with themselves. They put all their energy into work and then give what’s left of themselves to their families and friends. When night comes they fall into bed wishing they had made time for themselves in some way or another. Sad but all too often, true.
At the foundation of self care is self love.
You need to learn to love yourself like crazy.
Why else would you want to take care of yourself if you didn’t think you deserved it? Aren’t you worthy of being happy? Why shouldn’t you feel rested and simultaneously joyful? You can have it all, you just need to learn how to make it happen.
The first step to better self care is self awareness.
What are your values? What are your needs? What makes you happy? Paying attention to your deep needs is not a bandaid solution. This act of shifting your focus will bring you improvement in many areas of life. Start with making adjustments in your personal life.
For example, I value integrity, relationships and personal growth. I need time to be still and time for adventure.
Your turn. Take just five minutes today to identify your top three values and needs. Then write down everything that brings you joy. This list will help you evaluate if you are truly living your life in line with your values. The list will help you determine what you would like to add more of to your days and weeks. Where are you missing out and how can you fit what’s missing back in? What will you need to prioritize differently?
Write your values in the comment box below. I’d love to get to know what’s important to YOU!
Have a great day,
Love,
Amy
