Prioritizing Self-Care: Why It Matters
In a world full of business, slowing down and relaxing can be difficult and seem near impossible for some. We often juggle work, relationships, family, school, and the never-ending list of responsibilities that seem to come with day-to-day life. Sometimes, things can get overwhelming and we can start to feel burnt out. This is where self-care comes in and why it is so critical to prioritize. Prioritizing self-care is something that would benefit anyone, no matter who the person is. When you take care of yourself and your own well-being, everything else in your life benefits.
Focusing on self-care isn’t always easy though, especially if you’re struggling with a chronic condition. Depression can affect your motivation and thoughts. Anxiety can keep you up at night, making you tired and irritable. And chronic pain can make it difficult to focus or even move. However, a little self-care can also help ease all of these symptoms.
What Self-Care Really Is
What exactly is self-care? According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “self-care is the ability to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and cope with illness, either independently or with the support of healthcare providers. It is essential for achieving and maintaining a good quality of life.” Self-care is not just a spa day or taking a warm bubble bath – though both of those things can be great!
Self-care is intentionally taking the steps to nurture your emotional, physical, and mental needs and well-being. Some days, self-care can look like practicing meditation and immersing yourself in a calm silence. Other days, it’s saying “no” to things you do not want to do, going for a walk, or allowing yourself a nap without feeling guilty. There are many different ways we can practice good self-care.
Why It’s So Hard to Prioritize
Even though we know that self-care is important, it still often becomes difficult to prioritize, and it gets pushed to the back of our minds. Why is this?
- Saying “yes” to others is easier than disagreeing
- Rest can be perceived as laziness
- We feel guilty about putting ourselves first
- We’re overwhelmed and don’t know where to start
- We believe self-care takes too much time & energy
But the reality of this is, ignoring your own essential needs leads to burnout, irritability, and disconnection – from yourself and the people in your life.
The Benefits of Putting Yourself First
When you consistently practice self-care, you experience:
- Reduced stress & anxiety levels
- More patience and a better emotional balance
- Improved physical health
- Increased self-esteem and confidence
- A better work-life balance
- Healthier relationships with others & yourself
- More energy and productivity
- Greater overall happiness & improved quality of life
You show up as the best version of yourself – not the exhausted, stretched-thin version.
Simple Ways to Prioritize Self-Care Every Day
You don’t need to put in hours a day or make a complicated routine to prioritize yourself and your needs. Start small and simple. Determine your overall health and well-being. Identify the stressors in your life. Identify your coping strategies and figure out what works best for you!
1. Set boundaries: Say no when you need to and protect your time, energy, and mental well-being.
2. Listen to your body: Rest when you’re tired. Eat when you’re hungry. Stretch when you’re stiff. Your body is always communicating with you, listen to it!
3. Do something that brings you happiness: Whether it’s reading, exercising, painting, gardening, dancing, etc. – make time for what lights you up!
4. Maintain a healthy diet: Eat regular, well-balanced, nutritious meals & stay hydrated throughout the day!
5. Practice gratitude: Remind yourself of things you are grateful for. Write them down at night in a journal, replay happy thoughts and moments in your mind, and talk to someone whether that is a friend, family member, coworker, etc.
6. Incorporate small self-care moments into your day-to-day life: Take some deep breaths, ground yourself, and do a quick body scan. Are you holding tension in your neck? Is your jaw clenched? Notice how you are physically feeling in the moment and take a minute to refocus and reset!
7. Be kind to yourself: Nobody is perfect, and you cannot expect to be. Mistakes happen and sometimes things do not work out the way we want them to. Instead, focus on the efforts that you are making, even if they seem small.
An Overall Reminder
Self-care isn’t about being perfect. It’s about awareness and intention. Some days you will do great, other days you may forget. That’s okay! What matters is that you keep returning to yourself. Prioritizing self-care is one of the most powerful ways to strengthen your mind, nurture your happiness, and build a life that feels balanced and not just busy!