Three tips on self care
Doing something that you love is self care. Many of us diminish the importance of self care, especially caregivers, leading to less joy and poorer physical and mental wellbeing. Let's talk about why we need to prioritize self care and how we can overcome the roadblocks to self care.
You might have stopped exercising, eating healthy, taking naps, drawing, journaling, building your business, etc., because you don't have the time, the mental or physical capacity, or the resources to do the things you love to do.
You might have been thrown off track due to a major life event or sickness. You might have thought about restarting but you feel guilty because it seems like you're placing yourself ahead of something or someone you care about deeply. During this busy time, self care seems like an indulgence.
You know what makes you happy, but you're in the waiting room, yearning for things to settle down before you start to care for yourself. You feel stuck and you are not happy!
We get it.
When we get overwhelmed, our minds are foggy. We often need to be reminded.
Self care is necessary. You are not selfish if you take care of yourself. You're not a bad team player if you take a 15 minute break to go for a walk during crunch time. Your mind will be sharper. You're not lazy if you go off the grid every Friday. You'll return to work feeling recharged. You're not a bad mother if you take a bubble bath to destress. You'll emerge from it feeling more calm! You'll likely be more patient and loving toward your little one(s). You're not a lazy dad if you take a power nap. You'll be more present with your kids. You'll have the energy and desire to play and bond with them.
When you're well, you can be a better problem solver, a better employee, a better boss! When you're well, you can better care for your loved ones.
You get what we're saying.
It is so hard to get started. It is OK to start small.
What does that mean? You can start with doing it for five minutes. If you don't have five minutes, try one minute. When you set the bar low, getting started becomes much easier.
Here are three tips to get started on self care:
1. Change your mindset on self care. Self care is necessary. It is not selfish. Give yourself the permission to do something that will make you happy. When we're able to do it, we are on our way to breaking the viscous cycle of feeling tired, overwhelmed, and unhappy.
2. Ask your support network for help. If you need a break from family duties, you can ask your partner, your parents, or babysitters for their support. If you need emotional support, identify and reach out to someone who you confide in. If you need to connect with people who share your challenges, there are local groups and online forums that are bursting with relevant conversations and resources.
3. Set a SMART goal and follow through. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time. Setting a SMART goal makes it very clear on what you need to do and when to do it. It should be challenging but attainable. For example, if you would like to improve on your health, you could set a SMART goal as such: I will swim once a week for 30 minutes, every Sunday at 2pm at the community center. Or, I will go to bed at 10PM and wake up at 7AM from Monday to Friday. Once you've set a goal, take action and follow through with it.
It's important to carve out time for yourself. Make yourself a priority and soon you'll begin to feel better.
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