What do you mean practice self-care? I have more important things to think about!

It’s very easy for others to tell you what you should be doing when you’re overwhelmed and feeling overstretched.

Let’s face it when you’re overwhelmed and feeling overstretched, you’re probably also finding it hard to:

Gather the right energy levels to complete the daily chores let alone anything else.

Your time is probably limited with the extra responsibilities you’re undertaking.

You may be struggling with your decision-making skills because of feeling overloaded.

You may experience negative thought processes because of the anxiety and stress as a symptom of overwhelm and being overstretched.

What’s The Long-Term Effect of Not Practicing Self-Care?

When we’re in an anxious place and being overwhelmed and feeling overstretched our whole body becomes confined.  This means our breathing is restricted, with a knock-on effect on the efficient functioning of our whole body, emotionally, mentally and physically.  Our minds become so inwardly focused on the difficult and painful situation at hand that we easily lose sight of the positive possibilities open to us.

All this will have a knock-on effect on how you view your own quality time.  This can give rise to feelings of guilt and pressure, that you should want to take some time for yourself.  This will then give rise to feelings of more pressure in managing your roles and responsibilities which can then become a vicious cycle of negativity, pressure and guilt.

When you’re in the middle of something so difficult that it takes up all your energy, thoughts and feelings, it feels emotionally painful to put some time aside for yourself, doesn’t it?

It can feel like an extra chore on your already long list of responsibilities.  You’re probably already feeling tired and having something extra to do will feel like a burden you do not want to address. 

I get all of that.

However difficult it might seem at the time, self-care is a vital practice that contributes to balancing and supporting your mental, emotional, and physical health.  Even though we might not like to admit it, we know deep down that we should also be kind to ourselves and practice self-care during these times. 

Practicing self-care doesn’t have to take up much time and it doesn’t have to be elaborate. In the ideal world, it would be great to take an evening out for a luxurious bath with scented candles and relaxing music.  But in times like this, you may not have that luxury of time so small snippets of time throughout the day may work better for you. Once you start practicing self-care you will begin to notice the differences within yourself and how you view life and what’s going on around you.

The Benefits of Practicing Self-Care.

There are many long-term benefits to practicing self-care which can be incorporated into your day.

• Improved Mental Health: Reducing anxiety and stress, enhance your mood and increase your resilience.
• Better Physical Health: Boost your immune system, improve your sleep, and enhance your energy levels.
• Enhance Focus and Productivity: Increasing concentration and improving your decision-making skills.
• Develop Stronger Relationships: Being in a better emotional place, improving communication and protecting your boundaries to allow proper time for yourself as well as other people.
• Increase Self-Awareness: Understanding your own needs and desires by engaging in self-reflection and self-discovery will strengthen your personal development skills.
• Prevent Burnout: Self-sustain your well-being and reduce chronic exhaustion.
• Improve Self-Esteem: Practicing self-care will send a positive message and feelings of personal value and increase your positive self-image.
• Enhance Creativity: Increase your levels of inspiration igniting levels of mental clarity and the free flow of ideas.

What Are The Finer Details Of These Benefits?

Shoving all your anxiety, stress and feelings of being overwhelmed into the back of the closet of your mind isn’t going to cut it.

However, taking part in self-care activities like relaxation, mindfulness, exercise, and being in nature will help relax you, boost your mood, increase your creativity and improve your general all round wellbeing.

Giving yourself time to practice something you love will give enormous value to you and your life. Being able to explore new ideas will give you a well-earned emotional and mental break from the difficult and painful change you’re going through.  It will also rebuild your confidence and self-esteem levels helping you to notice what is good in the world.

Practising self-care, even when you feel under pressure not to put everything else first and yourself last will help you to feel better about yourself as well as enrich your emotional, mental and physical wellbeing.  Over time you will learn and understand your body more thoroughly.  You will begin to notice the more subtle messages your body is telling you, allowing you to investigate them more easily and in a more timely manner.

To give longevity of life for you and other people is based on looking after yourself as well as everyone else.  Putting yourself at the top of the important list and making sure you give yourself the love and care you deserve.  This isn’t you being selfish and uncaring of the important people and things in your life.  This is you looking after yourself so you can look after these important people in your life more easily and more efficiently.

Both my books When Dad Became Joan and 4 Steps to Emotional Freedom discuss the importance of looking after our well-being and guide you through the process of managing this.  Change is hard.  Getting started on looking after your well-being is difficult to start managing as well, but the sooner you begin the sooner you can start to come through the darkness and out the other side to see the sunshine again.