Self-care simplified...
“Self-care is giving the world the best of you, instead of what’s left of you.”
-Katie Reed
Self-care is so essential for our well-being, yet many struggle trying to ‘justify’ spending any time/effort/money on it. Many people think that that self-care is selfish and indulgent! Many still see it is as a luxury rather than a necessity! In my opinion, such messages are not only unhelpful but also damaging.
As a woman myself, I feel the demands of society are weighing more heavily on me now, especially in recent years. Generally speaking, I feel that modern day women need to be good partners/wives, excellent mothers, successful career women, providing help/support, doing charitable work, looking perfect and polished (24/7) and the list goes on! How attainable is this, really!? And is this serving us? Hardly, given how many women end up with health challenges, nervous breakdowns and total burnouts!
Now if you won’t make yourself a priority, who will!? If we keep going on and ignore the messages our bodies send us, we are likely to face some serious health challenges down the line. And we all know that it’s easier to maintain our health than it is to regain it! So, put yourself first because we can only help and serve others from a place of abundant health and equilibrium.
Learn to say NO more often and don’t feel guilty about it. You’re totally entitled to choose carefully what you will say yes to and no to. I once read that NO is an acronym for: ‘Nourish Oneself’! It puts a positive spin on the word that we so often associate with negativity! By saying no more often you create space for all that which you enjoy doing and that which nourishes you on a deeper level.
Don’t be shy to delegate. If there are things you absolutely don’t have to do yourself then don’t do them. Whether it means finding a cleaner, a gardener, a PA to help you with some tasks pertaining to your business go ahead and delegate. By doing so, you’ll gain more time for those things that truly matter to you.
Make sure you spend some time in nature every day even if it’s just ten minutes. Research is showing that spending time in nature has a beneficial effect on our nervous system; it activates the parasympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system also referred to as the ‘rest and digest’ branch. We all know that the world seems more manageable from a place of calm!
Pay attention to your sleep, another powerful tool to keep you healthy and in good spirits. Our sleep is a time of profound rest and rejuvenation, it is when we heal and repair and so many of us sacrifice our sleep for things and activities that can wait until the next day. Aim to be in bed by 10:30pm the latest and introduce a digital curfew at least a couple of hours before bedtime. There is sufficient evidence showing that the blue light from our electronic gadgets disrupts the production of melatonin – the sleep hormone.
Be part of a community outside your work and family. Connect with like-minded people where you can have fun just for the sheer sake of having fun. This is so important yet very few women feel ok about ‘having fun’.
There you have it, some simple tips to get you started on self-care!
In health,
Jana
