Contrary to the general misconception, self-care isn’t all about being selfish or engaging in acts of self-indulgence, and it can lead to a lot of confusion about what it really means. Simply put, self-care is anything we do to better care for our physical, emotional, and mental well-being. It doesn’t always have to mean an expensive trip abroad or luxuries like pedicures and bubble baths. Straightforward actions like getting more sleep, talking with a therapist, and saying ‘no’ to tasks you can’t handle instead of overworking yourself are just as meaningful to your self-care. Here are some major tips to help you take better care of yourself and develop a better understanding of self-care.
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What Does It Mean to Have Time for Yourself?
Time alone isn’t supposed to be reserved for catching up on your chores or indulging in someone else’s work. Finding time for yourself means dedicating time consciously for just you and you alone. Time set aside for yourself is for you to be with your thoughts, doing what you want, not what someone else thinks or wants you to do. Everybody deserves some alone time, and although it’s a very simple self-care practice, it’s difficult for many to carry out. Many people may feel like the time is being wasted or they’re being unproductive. But ultimately, allowing yourself to relax without getting anything done will positively impact your well-being, allowing you to be more productive than ever.
Why is Taking Time for Yourself Important?
There are countless reasons you should incorporate taking time off for yourself, even on a busy or hectic schedule. Time off is crucial if you’re someone who needs a moment to think and recharge their batteries before the next social interaction. It also enables you to think more clearly and process your thoughts and feelings in a better way. Research shows that consciously choosing to spend time alone instead of relying on other people can have benefits like a boost in self-esteem. It gives you time to experience freedom from daily responsibilities, think creatively, and feel intimacy with yourself.
Ways to Practice Self-Care on a Busy Schedule
Now that we know the what and why it’s time to focus on the how. So how do you implement self-care into a part of your daily schedule so that it becomes a part of your way of life instead of a rare occurrence?
1.Identify Your Needs and Express Them
No one can understand you better than yourself, and no one is going to be there to fulfill your needs. If you don’t look out for your needs, no one will. So, if you need some space and time away from everything, you have to be the one to express that. If you’re struggling to accomplish that, then it’s important to tell your family and friends about taking time off and ask them for support. Check on yourself if you’ve had enough time to sleep, been eating a balanced diet, or are feeling stressed out.
2. Get a Preventative Full Body Checkup
Although taking your health into your own hands is a positive step forward, you can’t see everything happening with your body by yourself. Taking a preventative health assessment can provide a comprehensive image of your health. It’s common for people to find themselves in a state of worry or fixation; for many adults, this comes in the form of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Unwanted feelings, obsessive thoughts, and other OCD symptoms can become amplified and take over your daily life. In any case, you should check with a medical professional and take an OCD test to figure out if it’s just a phase or something more.
3. Question Your Inner Self
Most people tend to overanalyze their feelings because they feel too complex and don’t always make sense. Instead of coming up with reasons for your feelings, you have to learn to understand them without judgment. For instance, if you feel guilty about taking time for yourself, explore the guilt and question yourself on it. Understanding the way you feel certain emotions is the first step you need to take to fix your inner workings.
4. Stop Over-Committing
Saying yes to everything just to make a good impression or be nice to others might seem like a good idea initially, but it won’t leave you any time to do the things you want to. Your time is precious; spending that for the sake of others isn’t fair to you. While compromising and being the bigger person in your relationships is a valuable trait to possess, learning to say no to the things you don’t want to do is crucial for your well-being. Unless it’s an emergency, you don’t need to be at the complete disposal of everyone around you.
5. Establish an Exercise Routine
Performing physical exercises and activities is an excellent way to spend time with yourself. In addition to the mental freedom of being alone, exercise can also greatly improve your physical health. Setting weekly routines or rhythms for tasks you often dread can help you get a big load off your shoulders and reduce the number of daily chores you attend to. For instance, having a designated day for laundry will have you stop worrying because it will become a weekly routine.
