As a busy woman working hard in my family-owned business, I have a lot on my plate. Some days it is overwhelming, but I don’t feel like I have the time or energy to stop and take a break or spend time on myself. My therapist and my oncologist both gave me advice about doing something to reduce stress and spend time taking care of myself. After a TON of procrastinating, I finally attended a yoga class in Los Angeles with my son. I was really hesitant to go, thinking I would be a total failure and look really awkward. My son, almost dragging me to the car, took me with him anyway. I am so grateful that he did. Don’t wait as long as I did to put something in your schedule to focus on YOU. Investing in self-care generates so many benefits and offers a pretty significant ROI.
Check out my short list of ways self-care will help you as you navigate your busy lifestyle.
Improved Physical Health: Prioritizing self-care involves taking care of your physical well-being. Decide what you want to focus on; regular exercise, getting more sleep, and eating a balanced diet are all great places to start and will boost your energy levels, strengthen your immune system, and reduce the risk of various health issues.
Enhanced Mental and Emotional Well-being: Self-care practices contribute to better mental and emotional health. Try practicing mindfulness or meditation, and engaging in hobbies or creative outlets, which can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. It promotes a positive mindset, emotional resilience, and a sense of fulfillment.
Increased Productivity and Focus: When you prioritize self-care, you recharge your physical and mental energy. This enhances your ability to concentrate, think clearly, and be more productive in your personal and professional life. Regular breaks and self-care activities can prevent burnout and increase overall efficiency. Contrary to that little voice in your head, self-care does not take away from your “productive time”, it actually enhances it!
Better Relationships: By prioritizing self-care, you create a solid foundation for healthy relationships. When you take care of your own needs and well-being, you are better equipped to nurture and support others. Put your own mask on before you help others, same with self-care. Self-care helps you maintain boundaries, communicate effectively, and cultivate empathy, leading to more meaningful connections with your family and friends. And yes, this is crazy hard when you are raising a family. It felt nearly impossible to take time for me when my kids were in school. I forced it to happen with a daily workout, at lunch no less! Getting that daily workout in made me a better person in every way, a better mother, business person, and friend. It helped me keep things in perspective, be more patient, and just made me happier overall.
Improved Self-esteem and Self-worth: Engaging in self-care practices reinforce self-esteem and self-worth. By investing time and effort in self-care, you send a message to yourself that YOU deserve love, attention, and care. This fosters a positive self-image and a greater sense of self-compassion.
Stress Reduction and Resilience: Self-care acts as a buffer against stress. Engaging in activities that promote relaxation, such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, or spending time in nature, can help reduce stress levels. Regular self-care routines build resilience and help equip you to better cope with life’s challenges and bounce back from setbacks. The American Institute of Stress investigated the degenerative process of stress and concluded that most health problems are caused by stress… the greater the stress, the greater the degenerative effect on cells.
Stress is an easily identifiable condition that not only causes anxiety but is also highly psychosomatic, affecting everything from our digestive system to our skin. This is why prevention is so important in avoiding the toll that stress takes on us – and why many experts recommend practicing mindfulness.
Achieving mindfulness involves a gradual process of training, but with a bit of practice, we can learn to focus our mind completely, reducing stress and helping achieve longevity.
Increased Creativity and Inspiration: Taking breaks and engaging in self-care activities can stimulate creativity and inspire new ideas. Stepping away from work or responsibilities allows your mind to rest, recharge, and access fresh perspectives. This can lead to increased innovation, problem-solving, and personal growth.
Better Work-Life Balance: Prioritizing self-care helps maintain a healthy work-life balance. By setting boundaries, scheduling personal time, and engaging in activities unrelated to work, you create a sense of equilibrium between professional and personal obligations. This leads to greater satisfaction and fulfillment in both areas of life.
Can you add to this list? I know that the more you practice self-care the more rewards you will discover from investing in yourself. Don’t delay to get out there and try out different self-care practices. It may take time to come up with a system that works for you, but YOU are worth it.
