The last few weeks, months and years have been filled with a multitude of challenges. There have been times when I have felt like I’m drowning under the weight of it all. In an attempt to be there for others, I started to take my own health and well-being for granted. I was meditating regularly which helped immensely but was neglecting some other parts of myself. I started eating foods which I know do not agree with me, and that triggered a series of health complaints – I was in pain and had headaches. Do I know better? Of course! We probably all know what we should be doing, but sometimes we choose to ignore our inner awareness.
So, a couple of weeks ago, I decided that I really did know better and engaged in my own “Self-Care Plan”. I implemented some exercise, became mindful about what I was eating, re-started my yoga practice and introduced more frequent mindful breaks in the day. Has that helped? Absolutely. But it took prioritizing myself to do that.
In our society, we think that prioritizing self-care is selfish. That we should constantly be giving – whether it’s to our jobs, friends, family or even Netflix! We need to constantly remind ourselves that without taking care of our own well-being, there will come a time when we can’t give to others. When we are so depleted that it takes a health emergency to wake us up. Don’t wait till then. As flight crew always tell you: Put your oxygen mask on first, because if you run out of oxygen, you can’t help anyone else.
When you run low, stress, fatigue, overwhelm, depressive thoughts, anxiety and other mental health issues all become exacerbated. Schedule time to recharge and regroup everyday.
Some suggestions include:
- Mindful pauses and meditation
- Exercise
- Go for a walk in nature
- Schedule time for a catch up with a friend
- Write in a journal
- Think of 3 things you are grateful for each day (more if you can!)
What other things do you do to take care of yourself?