The Importance of Self Care
Self care helps to better manage stress and overwhelm and aids positively to our overall wellbeing.
Are you someone who always puts other peoples’ needs before your own? You go out of your way to make sure everyone else is happy or has what they need, oftentimes neglecting your own needs? While your heart is in the right place, I am here to tell you that you this tendency to put others’ needs before your own is a recipe for burnout and unhappiness. It is time to prioritize your needs. I know, I know, you may be thinking “but that is so selfish!” or “I am a parent, I can’t do that!” Well, I am here to tell you that you can do that, and you should.
I am sure that we all have heard the flight attendant advise that in an event of an emergency on a plane, to put on your oxygen mask before putting on your children’s masks. Why? Because if something happens to you, and you do not have your oxygen mask on, then who will care for the children? Self-care is the same idea; you need to take care of yourself and your needs so that you can be the best version of yourself for all of those who you care about and all of those who need you. You can’t be there for those people in your life if you are burnt out and unhappy. Ready to start prioritizing yourself? Let’s go!
Self-care can help you manage stress, lower your risk of illness, and increase your energy. When I talk about self-care with my clients, I focus on 4 areas: Sleep, Exercise, Nutrition, and Hobbies. Getting quality sleep is important and as adults, we need at least 8 hours of sleep. Some people do well with 6 or 7 hours, some others need 9 or 10; I encourage you to find your sweet sleep number (you can learn more about sleep routines in my other blog, here). Getting quality sleep is important because this is when our body and mind get to rest and rejuvenate for the next day.
Exercise is equally important. Now, you do not need to go train for a marathon or run 3 miles every day (but if that’s your cup-of-tea, go for it!). Fitting in at least 30 minutes of exercise or walking on most days of the week will do wonders to your mental and physical health; and will also give you a confidence boost! You can break up the 30 minutes into 15 minutes of exercise in the morning, and another 15 minutes in the evening; be creative!
Being mindful of what we eat is also important to overall self-care. Now, I am not a nutritionist and would advise you to consult with one if you are more interested on this topic. However, eating breakfast is a positive contributing factor to improved mood. I also recommend eating often (every 2-4 hours) to keep blood sugar levels balanced and to have energy throughout the day. Be mindful of what you eat and feed your body well.
Last but certainly not least, are hobbies. Hobbies are the activities that reenergize us, but when we are busy hobbies are often the ones to go. Find a hobby that you have enjoyed in the past, or maybe you want to pick up a new hobby. Hobbies recharge our batteries so that we can continue to be the best version of ourselves; the best Mother, Partner, Daughter, Employee, etc.
Self-care helps alleviate burnout, stress, and contributes to our overall health and happiness. How are you going to prioritize your self-care? Let me know via email or leave a comment on insta!
Now offering help with Self care for teens, college students, and adults in Mundelein, Round Lake, Gurnee and Waukegan.