Why Practicing Self Care is Very Important | Imagine Sunsets

• Read original article here

Self-care is a favorite topic these days, but it’s always unsatisfactorily explained all the time. It may be vague to you on how you’re going to add it to your life, or maybe you are not yet convinced why practicing self care is very important and why you need to practice it regularly. 

Self-care is a term that characterizes everything you do intentionally for your emotional, mental, and physical wellbeing. Practicing self-care doesn’t mean you are choosing yourself over someone. It only means that you are prioritizing yourself, your needs, so you’ll be able to help your loved ones better.

How many times over the last week, or over the last month (not to mention the last year) have you felt worn out or crabby or lacked the attention span you needed to give something? If you’re like most people — and this year, during the pandemic, perhaps all people — then it’s true you’ve probably had all of those feelings, multiple times a week if not every day. That’s OK, but those feelings are also indicators that you might be neglecting something that’s important to your overall well-being: self-care. When you say self-care to many people, they get the wrong idea. They think that you’re referring to meditation or time spent selfishly. What you really mean, though, is the time that you spend making sure you can give what you need to give to others by saying no, by eating well, by sleeping enough. How can you do more of that so you can be your best all the time? This graphic explains it.

In a nutshell, self-care is about being kind to yourself. You have to be intentional of your wellbeing or, you can never attain true self-care. 

Self-care teaches you to have a healthy and happy relationship with yourself so that you can spread the love, happiness, and good feelings to others. Some may misinterpret self-care as being selfish, but taking care of yourself is never selfish! Do not let others dictate what you so dearly need in your life to get through tough times.

When you try and pay enough attention to yourself, your wellbeing, you’re renewing yourself so that you can be the best version of you. Thus, the people around you can gain from your refreshed and revived spirit and allows them to do the same.

There are many stressors in our daily life. Our energy gets depleted so often, and we need to take action to save ourselves from losing ourselves. However, we mustn’t get tempted to use harmful coping mechanisms like over-eating, drugs, and alcohol. Remember that not everything that feels good is self-care. Some things can give us temporary relief during challenging times, but self-destructiveness is not self-care nor self-love. The only way to be at peace with yourself is by embracing and taking the time to focus on what is foremost in your life.

These are only a few of the things that we encounter in our everyday life, and no matter how we shake it off, it will always affect us. Stress is a slow and quiet killer! Do not let it spoil the life you deserve. 

Your overall health is crucial to be able to function at your full capacity. Self-care makes you more productive, efficient, vigorous, and full of life. Practicing self-care is a personal act, an acknowledgment that you have come in terms with yourself. It may always be different from person to person, so, look for the things that make you feel alive. When you practice self-care, commit to doing something for yourself, and do not back out. It’s a step to living your best life! 

So, do not undermine the power of self-care and how you can incorporate it into your daily life. It may sound so simple to others and intricate to some, and others may have already quit even before they have tried. How will you know if it’s worth it when you didn’t give it a shot? Do not ignore the things that can make you feel better.

The trick to sticking to your self-care activities is to find something that you genuinely enjoy. Practice self-care that aligns well with your life and your values and implement small habits every day. A great relationship with your mind, body, and soul is the key to longevity.