Let’s Talk About Self Care and Why It’s So Important

For many people living busy lives, self care is just something they consider from time to time without actually partaking in. Self care is something other people do, something they have time for. However, making time for self care is crucial – no matter how short on time you think you are. Self care might seem like a bit of a buzz term as it has been thrown around over the last few years more than ever. However, rather than the reason for this being that it is a ‘trend’ that will eventually go away, it’s because people are finally starting to realize just how important caring for themselves is. Here, we’re going to talk more about self care and how you can incorporate it into your life. When you begin caring for yourself you should be able to de-stress, relax, sleep better, and may even have more time for your hobbies and other things you enjoy. In fact, you should find that your relationships improve, that you perform better at work, and that you are able to be more productive in everyday life. 

Read on to learn more:

1. Schedule In Time For Yourself

You need to make sure you schedule in time for yourself and that you take it as seriously as you take other things you have committed to. Do something you enjoy, or just relax. Whatever you’re going to do, make sure you work it into your schedule regularly. This way, you can’t bail on it, and you’re going to feel obligated to stick to it. Refusing to take time for self care and having the idea it isn’t as important as other commitments simply shows where your mindset is at. Years ago, people were not taught to care for themselves adequately, and it was all about working and caring for other people. If you want to be the best you that you can be and feel amazing, schedule in that self care. 

2. Set Boundaries

Setting boundaries is a self care exercise that many people find tough or nigh on impossible. This can come from a habit of people pleasing, and believing that you owe people something or that their time is more important than yours. Learning how to say no to something you don’t actually want to do is a key learning curve everybody should master. If you’re too busy, say no, don’t take on more work or offer to help somebody else. If you’re stressed or you’ve had a bad day, let people know you don’t want to go to that party anymore. Ultimately, don’t feel resentful for doing things you don’t really want to do. Just don’t do them. People who really care about you will understand. Of course, there are exceptions – like if you’ve made important plans with somebody and you know it would really impact them if you didn’t stick to them. Having a little forethought can stop you from getting into situations that you eventually want to cancel on, though. Be honest, as people would rather than be cancelled on last minute or ghosted. 

3. Feel Your Feelings

Most people don’t feel their feelings, as they use something to mask them. They eat, shop, drink, watch TV – anything to distract from what they feel. It’s true, feeling things can be hard. But feeling them, acknowledging and honoring them, is the only way to work through them and move forward. Life isn’t supposed to be easy or pain free all the time. 

4. Get Active

Staying active will make you feel great and help to keep you healthy in the long run. Plus, if you find something you like to do then it won’t feel like much of a chore at all! Go walking, swimming, or weight training. Whatever you do, do it for health and to feel great, not for weight loss or a certain body type. We need to distance ourselves from the idea that we must exercise to ‘look better’. We should exercise because it helps us to avoid a variety of diseases, allows us to live longer, gives us better sleep, and helps to fight off mental illness.

Image by silviarita from Pixabay 

5. Just Do Nothing

Sometimes, self care can be just doing absolutely nothing. You could look at the best bubble bath hacks and soak in the tub for hours. You could take a nap. You could doodle. Don’t feel compelled to swap productivity at work with productivity in self care. You don’t need to feel like you’re being productive at all. Just ‘be’ for a change. 

6. Learn Something New

Why not learn something new and show yourself what you can do? Try something you’ve always wanted to try and you’ll be surprised at what you’re capable of! There are classes and workshops everywhere that could help you to learn something new. 

7. Pick Up An Old Hobby

Is there a hobby you left in the past because you simply did not have the time? Try picking it up again! You’d be surprised at how much joy this can bring you. 

8. Spend Time With People You Care About

Make sure you spend time with the people you care about. This in itself is self care and can be a huge relief when you chat away to them. Don’t let relationships with the people you love die out, or you could regret it later on. 

9. Catch Up On Your Reading

Pick up that book you stopped reading a while back. Start making it through your ‘to be read’ pile. Reading can transport us to another planet and help us to forget ourselves for a while, or teach us new and exciting things. 

10. Watch Something You’ve Been Meaning To Watch

Even watching something is ok if you believe it will enrich your life. Watching TV for the sake of watching TV isn’t a good idea, but if something looks interesting to you, give yourself permission to watch it.

Image by Wokandapix from Pixabay 

11. Change Your Self Talk

The way you talk to yourself can have a huge impact on your attitude, mood, and how productive you are throughout the day. It takes time to change the way you have been programmed, but it’s definitely possible with a concentrated effort and a knowledge of why this is so important. 

12. Vow To Stop Spending Time With Toxic People

Newsflash: you don’t need to keep on spending time with people who make you feel bad. Stop spending time with ‘friends’ who don’t seem to want to see you succeed. Who only focuses on your ‘failures’. Who always seems to want to have on up on you. Who give you backhanded compliments, or only ever focus on themselves. A toxic person doesn’t need to be outwardly nasty to be toxic. They can simply be an energy vampire, thinking the world revolves around them. You shouldn’t keep these people in your life out of obligation. 

13. Take Yourself Somewhere New And Exciting

Finally, why not take yourself somewhere you’ve always wanted to go? Don’t wait for anybody else to go with you, or wait for an offer. Just take yourself. Travelling alone, even to a nearby town or city, can help you to spend some much needed quality time with yourself. You get to do whatever you want, no questions asked or compromises. You’ll probably learn a lot about yourself in the process. Plus, when you’re comfortable with spending time alone, you won’t feel the need to waste time with people who are no good for you.