We’ve said it once, we’ll say it a thousand times. Self-care isn’t selfish. In fact, taking time out for yourself on a daily basis, and finding the balance between what you need and what others need of you is so important to your wellbeing.
Self-care looks different for everyone, because we’re all different. But essentially, it means finding time in the day for some ‘me time’ and putting yourself first.
Maybe that’s sitting down to read a magazine or just sitting quietly in the garden. It could be having a hot bath or taking a detour through a park on your walk home. Or it could be sitting down to eat your dinner, rather than grabbing something on the go. It’s about stopping just for a moment, and taking an active role in protecting our own sense of wellbeing.
But it also means not neglecting anything that is affecting your daily sense of happiness. Paying your bills on time is an act of self-care. As is making that GP appointment to talk about something that has been niggling away at you. Having a difficult conversation about something that has been bothering you is an act of self-care. And so too is setting healthy boundaries in your relationships, so you know what is and is not acceptable for your own sense of worth.
On an aeroplane, one of the first things you are taught is that if something should happen to cause oxygen masks to come down, you have to put on your own before tending to someone else. That’s because you can’t be of use to others if you can’t help yourself. The same is true of self-care.
One of the most important things to remember is, be kind to yourself, it may feel alien to you, but self-care is important and can have a positive impact on your wellbeing.