I don’t know about you, but taking care of myself is one of those things I relegate to the bottom of my list thinking I’ll do it if I have time. Taking care of yourself isn’t a bottom of the list item. Yet, I think many of us don’t prioritize ourselves. There just seems to be too much to do. But it’s time to fall in love with taking care of yourself.
WHY
- If you don’t take care of your physical self, you’ll have nothing to give to anyone else. There will be no energy to do your job, participate in things you enjoy, care for your loved ones, or care yourself.
- Taking care of yourself is the number one way to affirm that you are a person of value. If you value something, you take care of it.
- You cannot become who you want to be if you don’t work on it. Whether your skinny and you want more muscle or you’re alone and want more company, nothing will change until you act on your desire.
- Caring for yourself will help prevent stress and burn-out. Like the adage says “all work and no play…”
HOW
- Get enough sleep. No matter how much you need to get done, your body needs the sleep more. Don’t tell yourself the lie that ‘you’re different.’ Respect your body’s needs.
- Eat a healthy diet. Carbs, proteins, and fats are essential to your health. Over- or under-eating any of those can cause serious health issues.
- Take time to exercise. It doesn’t have to be a marathon. Focus on what you can do today. Schedule a time specifically to exercise. Choose an exercise that is fun for you–dancing, swimming, walking your dog, a stroll with friends.
- Tend to your mental health. Give yourself downtime every day. Treat yourself kindly. Meditate. Soak up the joy and feel the gratitude for the pleasures of your life.
- Invest time in activities that replenish and restore you. Reading, visiting museums or art galleries, listening to music, visiting with friends and family, or spending time on a hobby.
- Learn something new. Follow an interest of yours. Be curious and engaged. Your brain will thank you by giving you ideas for dealing with other areas of your life.
- Schedule time to play. Do something that has nothing to do with work. Be silly, giddy, joyfully engaged in something you do just for fun.
“You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” -Martin Luther King Jr.
Prioritize yourself. You’ll reduce stress and increase satisfaction with yourself and your life. In fact, you’ll fall in love with taking care of yourself.