I come home feeling frustrated with work, tired, and hear my kids bickering in the other room. My pants are too tight and I was up until midnight watching Game of Thrones. When I look in the mirror, I don't know who this woman is looking back at me. I ask myself, "Who am I?" Although, I am not having an existential crisis, I realize that I have stopped taking care of myself. It happened slowly, gradually, and before I realized it, I was burned out.
We often spend much of our time taking care of other people, our children, spouse, employees, or customers. Before you know it, you’re a piece of bread in a koi pond being torn to pieces and there is nothing left for you. But, we have to save a few pieces in order to take care of ourselves.
What is self-care?
According to PsychCentral "Self-care is any activity that we do deliberately in order to take care of our mental, emotional, and physical health." Self-care has been linked to decreased mental health issues and more satisfying romantic relationships. Some examples of self-care include:
· Get enough sleep
· Exercise often
· Visit the doctor regularly
· Spend time being present with family
· Set boundaries, say “no”
· Do one pleasurable activity each day
· Eat a healthy, balanced diet
· Meditate
I’ve heard many clients say, “I feel selfish” when practicing self-care. But taking care of ourselves is about knowing what we need so we can continue to care for others and have healthy relationships. Not only will you find yourself feeling more serene, but you will also be setting an example for the people in your life to practice these healthy habits.
Give yourself permission to make self-care a priority, I think you will like the results.
If you want to learn more, contact me at info@ambertuckercounseling.com or 352-505-4526 for a free phone consultation.