Me, Myself and I
Explore why self-care is crucial for mental health, stress relief, and overall well-being. Learn how to prioritize yourself without feeling guilty.
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When your teenager takes a nap, instead of chores, is it selfish? If your partner goes to the gym after work, and doesn’t spend as much time at home, is it selfish? If a friend cancels plans to see someone, they haven’t seen in a while, is it selfish? Of course not! So, why does it feel like we are being selfish, when we make a choice of self-care?
You’re Worth Every Second
Lifestyle changes, health improvements, weight loss, anxiety and depression management, all share a common denominator. They all share a necessary ingredient for success. A positive frame of mind. Now, why did I open with selfish perceptions, and now I’m talking about mental health? Great question!!
Allowing yourself to practice self-care, has shown to have many benefits in lifestyle changes. And self-care can come in many varieties. For some people it’s going to the salon, maybe you enjoy walks alone, maybe you treat yourself to a new pair of shoes. The possibilities are endless and can be simple. Sometimes mine is watching a show, after everyone goes to bed, sitting mindlessly in the quiet. The question I have is, do you feel guilty that you are enjoying something for yourself? My answer is, yes, sometimes I do. You need to remind yourself, that you are worth it. You deserve it. We all do!
Self-care improves stress, anxiety, anger and frustration. Taking a few moments for yourself to unwind from work, to rest, to sit and just breathe, is proven to improve mood and sleep quality. Giving yourself the freedom to treat yourself well, has been shown to improve your parenting skills, your relationships and how you view your own worth.
Self-care can be social, physical, mental, spiritual or emotional. It doesn’t have to be complicated. It doesn’t have to be time consuming. Lunch with friends, a focused workout, a quite walk, or even a good cry! These are all therapeutic ways to treat yourself and your needs. You should not feel guilty. You should feel empowered to care for yourself as you do for others.
Take the time. Schedule the time if you have to. If you want to improve your overall health, changing your physical appearance is not enough. Finding ways to maintain a strong head space is as important as the food you eat. Make yourself a priority.
Taking care of yourself doesn’t mean me first; it means me too. — L.R. Knost
Be good to yourselves,
Warmly,
Sheri
