In a nutshell: self-care can help us be our best selves.
Self-care seems to be quite trending these days. And with most of the populace overworked and stressed out, self-care may slip through the cracks. It can actually seem like a luxury to those who are used to putting others ahead of themselves like parents, caretakers, healthcare providers, and anyone who has that general nature about them. Self-care tends to be pushed further and further down the to-do list until it's completely removed from it.
Whether you believe it or not, self-care is something we should all pay a little more attention to, in order to be our best selves. If you're not sure how to practice it, or why it's so important, here are a few things you should know about taking care of yourself.
It’s not a trend. It’s a necessity.
Trends come and go but self-care is forever. Taking care of yourself is important in keeping your balance. You may have heard of yin and yang. Well, think of work and responsibilities as yin, and taking care of yourself as yang. You can’t live in harmony without both. With just yin or just yang, you fall out of that balance and things in your life, as well as in yourself, begin to suffer.
Self-care doesn’t have to be a grand gesture.
You don’t have to do something big or expensive in order to give yourself some love. You don’t have to be on a boat in the south of France or having dinner at the most expensive restaurant. It can be as simple as a trip to the nail salon, a massage, or even spending time alone. As long as you are doing something that brings you peace and sanity, then you are taking care of yourself.
There are different types of self-care.
Self-care can come in different forms and cater to different parts that make up who you are. Emotional, mental, physical, social, spiritual, sensory, and indulgence are some of the main areas in which you can take care of yourself. That gives you a wide range of things you can do to care for yourself. For example, if you are in need of a mental break, you may want to do something like detox your life (getting rid of the negative influences in your life) or try something small, like taking a nap.
Is too much of a good thing, a not-so-good thing?
This is an old rule, and it doesn’t necessarily apply to the idea of taking care of yourself. Self-care will never be "too much of a good thing" in that sense. The only way you can fully show up as your best self is by making sure you do feel your best. If one of your needs isn’t being met you’ll end up off-balance, which leads to issues. You'll feel like a whole person when you tend to what’s missing.
It can change your entire life.
Once you do get in alignment, you’ll see a shift in your energy and your life. That alignment brings about a ton of health benefits and happiness because you’ll be doing something good for yourself, which in turn allows you to get to a "good state." You’ll notice that the zen you achieved is unparalleled. This balance will inevitably trickle down into other parts of your life. You’ll be setting healthy boundaries and putting yourself at the top of your list in no time!