You probably know the importance of taking care of yourself - mentally and physically. Healthy eating, good sleep, stress management - all of these can help to improve your quality of life and optimizing health. However, it's very easy to put yourself last when you have so many things on your to-do list. When was the last time you put your own needs to the side in order to take care of everyone else's needs?
It's only when your needs are taken care of that others can benefit from you and your good health.
Are you a victim of putting your own needs last?
- Unhealthy eating habits
- Inconsistent exercise
- Sleep deprivation
- Relying on caffeine and energy drinks to survive the day
- Failing to put your needs first in order to please others
- Excessive use of alcohol.
- Exhausted from too much on your daily plate
- Stressed from always saying yes to everyone
While you may have a lot of reasons why you are too busy to take care of yourself, don't wait until you are impacted by a illness or injury to start taking responsibility for your own well-being.
To take responsibility for your own care, it's important to remove any barriers, beliefs and excuses that may be standing in your way.
- It's not selfish to have "me" time.
- You don't have to feel guilty to put your needs first.
- You are allowed to ask for help.
- You don't have to get everything done right now/today.
- It's ok to not have control over everything.
- You are never too busy to take care of yourself.
Remind yourself that you can't function well in life if you are not well. To take care of your family, to be productive at work and to be a good caregiver to others, you must look after your own mental and physical health. Don't ignore (or overlook) your own needs.
Every day, give yourself the time you need to take care of yourself. And no, it's not selfish to eat well, exercise daily, calm your mind and to get restful sleep. With a little bit of effort to your own self-care, you'll feel more attentive to the world around you.
Every day, give yourself the time you need to take care of yourself. And no, it's not selfish to eat well, exercise daily, calm your mind and to get restful sleep. With a little bit of effort to your own self-care, you'll feel more attentive to the world around you.