Why Self-Care Matters
Self-care is a common buzzword and I think that sometimes it’s mentioned so frequently that we end up minimizing its importance and take it more lightly than maybe we should.
We are in a fast-paced society where we are constantly balancing work, school, family, tasks of daily life, hobbies, etc. When we have so many different things to balance and our schedule is packed full, self-care is often the first thing to take the backseat.
Self-care should not be seen as a luxury or an indulgence (necessarily), but rather as a maintenance task that’s essential to maintaining your mental and emotional well-being.
So, what really is “self-care”? The National Institute of Mental Health defines self-care as “taking the time to do things that help you live well and improve both your physical health and mental health. When it comes to your mental health, self-care can help you manage stress, lower your risk of illness, and increase your energy. Even small acts of self-care in your daily life can have a big impact.”
Here are the top reasons that self-care is essential for your mental and emotional well-being:
Emotional Well-Being - Self-care activities can enhance and increase our emotional well-being. Engaging in activities that bring us joy, satisfaction, and personal growth helps to boost our self-esteem and foster positive emotions. By regularly practicing self-care, individuals can better manage their emotional reactions to life's challenges and setbacks, as such, increasing our resiliency.
Stress Reduction – It is part of normal human experience to feel stress. But, once we reach a certain threshold of stress, it can take a significant toll on our mental health. Having a self-care routine can serve as a powerful stress management tool, helping you to unwind, relax, and reset. It’s important that you figure out what self-care activities will work best for you. Here are some ideas to get you started: meditation, exercise, enjoying a hot bath, taking a walk outside, cleaning your spaces, etc.
Self-Awareness - Self-care activities can allow you to step away from the daily noise and reflect on your life. It encourages self-awareness, helping you to better understand your needs, boundaries, and aspirations. This self-awareness can lead to personal growth and development, allowing you to align your life with your values and goals.
Preventing Burnout – If you are not maintaining your mental and emotional well-being, then you may be on the road to burnout. How can you give, give, give without ever giving back to yourself? I often explain this to clients by having them imagine a bucket. The bucket starts out filled with water. Imagine giving water to your family you’re your partner, to your job, to your friends, etc. When you are giving water to all of these different areas of your life, your losing water in your bucket. How are you re-filling the bucket? How are you replenishing your supply to be able to continue to give and maintain the obligations you have? Constantly pushing yourself to meet obligations and responsibilities without taking time to recharge can lead to burnout. Burnout not only affects your emotional and mental health but can also impact your physical health. Imagine self-care activities as being a protective shield against burnout, giving you the resilience to handle life's demands more effectively.
Relationship Improvement – If you aren’t adequately taking care of yourself then how can you best take care of the people in your life? Self-care is not just about taking care of yourself but also about how you can nurture your relationships with others. When you take time to care for your own needs, you become a better partner, parent, friend, or family member. You can be more present and engaged in your relationships which enables you to foster deeper connections.
Some tips for prioritizing self-care:
Make it a routine. Self-care should be maintained, not just when you “need” it.
Identify your needs. What self-care activities authentically and actually work for you?
Set boundaries. Protect your energy and enforce your boundaries.
Seek therapy to address your emotional and mental health needs.
Prioritizing self-care enables you to improve your emotional well-being, manage stress, increase self-awareness, prevent burnout, and foster stronger relationships.
