If you are looking to live a happier, more satisfying life, self-care is important. Perhaps even more so as we continue to tackle the impact of Coronavirus and for those in the UK dealing with yet another Lockdown! Put all of that alongside the “January Blues” or sense of being in the doldrums that so many experience at this time of year and the message self-care is important becomes even more pertinent!
Taking care of yourself may seem like a selfish act, but it’s crucial to your wellbeing. If you don’t take care of yourself, you’ll find it harder to take care of others.
Within this report, you’ll discover why self-care is so important and how you can incorporate it into your daily life.
What is Self-Care?
Let’s start by looking at what self-care is. Obviously, you know it’s about taking care of yourself, but do you know exactly what it is?
While it’s a common term that is thrown around a lot these days, many people are still unaware of what self-care means. This is because it is often explained in a very vague way.
Self-care is about taking care of yourself the same way you take care of others. It is about knowing what your mind and body needs. You’ll know when to step back to replenish your resources and you’ll show self-compassion.
There is a common misconception that self-care relates to anything that makes you feel good. While a lot of these types of task do make you happier, not all self-care feels good. For example, you may think over-indulging in food is a way of caring for yourself because you enjoy it. However, this would lead to additional health issues, if you were to continue over-indulging.
So, self-care is more about doing things that are good for the mind and body. The question is, why is it so important?
Why is it Important?
If you want to live a long and happy life, it’s crucial you look after your health and wellbeing. Self-care is how you ensure your mind and body are functioning as well as they can.
Some of the main benefits of self-care include:
- Improved physical and mental health
- You’ll feel more energized
- Improvement in self-esteem
- It helps to fight off disease
- You’ll be better able to help others
When you ensure your body has everything it needs, you’ll see a drastic improvement in your physical and mental health. It really helps to boost the immune system, fighting off illness and disease. Studies have revealed that activities that are about caring for yourself stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system. This basically means your body goes into rest mode, helping it to recharge and relax.
As self-care helps you to sleep better, this also leads to you feel more energized throughout the day. It also combats stress, which in turn can have all kinds of awesome benefits such as improvements in your relationships.
Those who don’t take care of themselves, often suffer with lower self-esteem. So, if you’re looking to feel more confident, taking care of your needs is a good place to start.
These are just some of the reasons why self-care is so important. Remember, it’s hard to be there to help others when you aren’t taking care of yourself first.