Prioritizing Self care

 

By Tolani

Image credit: Google 

Self-care is caring for yourself. It is anything you do to keep yourself physically, mentally and spiritually healthy.

Although this may seem so normal and usual, it’s often the first thing to decide when you find yourself in challenging situations. This is why it is important to keep it in mind. 

Engaging in a self-care routine has been proven to reduce or eliminate anxiety, depression, reduce stress, improve concentration, minimize frustration and anger, and increase happiness. 

Self-care offers numerous benefits to our overall well-being. One major thing it does is to increases our physical health. Engaging in activities like regular exercise, getting enough sleep and eating nutritious meals can enhance your physical health, boost your energy levels and strengthen your immune system.

An important aspect of self care is putting yourself first. It's important to think of how something will affect you before you go ahead and do it. Thinking about the benefits and the act of saying ‘no’ to something you are not comfortable with. And as stated earlier, practicing self care will and can help reduce stress, anxiety and symptoms of depression. It promotes better mental health, confidence and boosts energy.

Taking care of yourself allows you to recharge and refuel. This leads to increased productivity. Sometimes we get too bottled up and weighed down with activities that we forget to take out time for our selves. 

One thing I've come to realize is that when you prioritize your well-being, you have more energy and mental clarity to tackle daily tasks.

When you prioritize caring for yourself, you have more emotional resources to invest in your relationships. Taking time for yourself helps prevent burnout and enables you to show up as your best self in your interactions with others.

Personal care practices can boost your self-esteem and self-worth. By prioritizing your needs and engaging in activities that make you feel good, you send a message to yourself that you deserve care and attention. For instance, some people act of self care to themselves as a word of affirmation. Some take out time to exercise, while some opt for skincare routine. And some, reading, chatting with their friends, meditating, doing yoga, keeping themselves hydrated, taking a walk, talking to themselves. 

It doesn't have to be a hefty thing, it's plainly doing things that makes you feel you. Somewhat like your coping mechanism. 

Regular self-care can help prevent burnout, which is a state of physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion caused by prolonged stress. Without appropriate nutrition, physical activity and sleep you may be able to get by for a while but you will ultimately burnout. This is not a matter of if but when. It's important to get enough sleep, eat and take a break when it starts getting challenging for you.

Self care is really essential in our day to day activities. 

Taking care of yourself and putting myself first doesn't make you selfish. It just means you love yourself enough to love others. Self-care is an important activity to do every day. Doing so will lead towards a better balance among your dimensions of wellness and improve your overall health. 

Life is precious, and it is meant to be enjoyed.

Love yourself and put yourself first but do not be selfish to others.