I, Me, Myself
“Self–care is giving
people the best of you, instead of the rest of you." says writer Katie Reed. Self-care is not being
selfish, it is just that you also give priority to your needs and wants, without guilt and look to fulfilment and contentment. Unless
you are whole and happy, can you help others to be the same. The popular
metaphor, “You can’t pour out of an empty cup” sums it up.
As a society, we will ‘battle on’ despite the odds against us. We tend to expend
more energy than we create, leading to burnout. This doesn’t happen all at once
but builds momentum and one fine day snowballs into a crisis. Knowing your
limitations and striking a balance is crucial towards keeping your cup full.
How does your cup become empty?
When you are constantly prioritizing the needs of others, race to meet targets, and push yourself to do more, you suffer burnout and your cup begins to empty. You can address the situation by practising self-care or acting to protect and improve your well–being and happiness.
Physical –self–care.
·
Adequate
rest: Prioritize sleep and rest. A well-rested person is better equipped to
take on the day's challenges. Aim for at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep every
night.
· Exercise:
A sedentary lifestyle is detrimental to your health. Besides your daily
workout, incorporating movement into your daily routine is important. Exercise
improves immunity and personally, I feel more energized after a good workout.
·
Nutrition:
Eat to nourish and strengthen your body. Focus on a balanced diet replete with
wholesome and nourishing food.
·
Hydration: Drink plenty of water, healthy juices and soups.
·
Health
check-ups: Do not miss out on regular health check-ups and stay on top of
preventive care.
Emotional Self - Care
Set boundaries: When you think of self–care, think of setting boundaries. Feel free to say no if the interaction or task overwhelms you.
·
Financial
health: -
Tracking your expenses and building a safety net for yourself is a major
step towards improving your financial health and prioritizing self–care.
·
Journaling: Journaling helps you process your thoughts, feelings and emotions. It is therapeutic.
·
Strong
Support System: A strong support
system includes friends, family and mental health professionals. Confide in
trusted individuals to feel less overwhelmed and more in control.
·
Practice
gratitude: Reflect on and be thankful for blessings in your life.
· Engage in activities that you love: Express your creativity and emotions through any form of art or activity like music, writing, drawing, painting, or gardening
Spiritual Self - Care
· Commune
with nature: Take long walks, enjoy the
sunlight and night sky, breathe in fresh air, and listen to the birds. Just let
the joys of nature wash over you.
· Meditation
and Mindfulness: Focus on the present moment, quiet your mind and connect with
your inner self.
·
Read spiritual
texts: Find peace and inner healing in spiritual texts and sacred writings.
· Practise forgiveness and letting go: Work on releasing all the negative emotions that you may harbour. Let go of situations that you cannot control and move on.
· Digital
Detox: Disconnect from gadgets and devices every once –in –a while and
cultivate inner peace.
Finally, life is to be
enjoyed, and you will enjoy life, only if you are the best and happiest
version of yourself. Besides, you don’t want to be a bother to others, so take
care of yourself to the best of your ability. Give yourself permission to take a break. Self-care is not something that you indulge in occasionally, it is a change of lifestyle that you must adhere too. Love and care for yourself and
keep that cup brimming. Experiment and use what resonates with you.
“I lied and said I was busy.
I was busy;
but not in a way most people understand.
I was busy taking deeper breaths.
I was busy silencing irrational thoughts.
I was busy calming a racing heart.
I was busy telling myself I am okay.
Sometimes, this is my busy -
and I will not apologize for it.”
―
Share an uncommon self-care practice that has worked for you.
This post is part of the #BlogchatterHalfMarathon
Image credit - Pixabay.
Lovely writeup. There is a lot to learn from your post. Thanks for sharing it with us.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much.
DeleteThere's something menacingly ironical about self-love today. Vert few seem to be able to distinguish it from selfishness.
ReplyDeleteYes, there's a very fine line between self-care and self-love. When you love yourself, you will practice self-care. However, self-care must be practised as a preservation or maintenance and not be allowed to slip into indulgence.
DeleteI loved this blog post, lately I have been having this feeling of not being enough, but then I also do so much of multi tasking that I forget I am doing enough. Thank you for writing this post.
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by and appreciating the post.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully written. I can correlate to everything except for one thing digital detox - never had the courage to do that. I stay away from my family and friends so the only source to be connected is social media :) I will someday start doing regular detox too.
ReplyDelete