There is a quote by Katie Reed that says “Self-care is giving the world the best of you instead of what’s left of you.” Yet often for a variety of reasons the vital self-care that each and everyone of us is worthy of becomes neglected or an after thought. We fall at the bottom of our to-do list. It can seem extravagant to take positive actions that support our mental and physical well being. Around us we use our energy to take care of so much. We tend to our jobs, relationships, homes, cars, cats, dogs, plants, kids which is vital and valuable. Yet if we do not put gas in our car we will not go anywhere we want, or need, to go. If we do not put fuel into ourselves we will sputter along until our tank taps out.
“Good to yourself, better to others.” Judi Swanson
An article in Everyday Health titled “What is Self-Care and Why is it so important for your Health” says “Let’s clear up one common misconception from the get-go: Self-care is not synonymous with self-indulgence or being selfish. Self-care means taking care of yourself so that you can be healthy, you can be well, you can do your job, you can help and care for others, and you can do all the things you need to and want to accomplish in a day.” The beauty of self-care is to simplify having a daily practice of self-care for you. To determine how and when of the 24 hours you have in a day you can spend some healthy time focused on your your health and your well-being.
“Today do one thing to take care of you, then repeat tomorrow.” Unknown
The same article from Everyday Health says “Self-care requires checking in with yourself and asking yourself how you’re doing and what your body’s asking for. Some people use it to deal with difficult news stories, others just to maintain their happiness day to day. Self-care does not mean the same thing for everyone. Different people will adopt different self-care practices, and even your own definition might change over time. “What is self-care for one person will likely differ from someone else, and what’s self-care for you one day might not feel like self-care another day,” Dr. Amsellem says.” I always can tell the difference emotionally, mentally, and physically when I am not consistently practicing my personal self-care. If I am not spending time outside, doing some fitness, walking the dogs, or other actions that help me feel happy I can feel it.
“Know yourself. Feel yourself. Love yourself. Respect yourself. Take good care of yourself. You are your most precious possession on Earth.” Robert Muller
Incredible person you matter. Prioritizing time and energy on your needs benefits you and all of the people around you. Your self-care will improve your mental health and physical health. It will give you more energy and joy with the people, places, things, and creatures that surround you. Perhaps you will inspire others to take care of their awesomeness. You are so worth every second of self-care time you spend on yourself.
Thank you for taking care of yourself💜
Photo by Miguel Perales on Unsplash
Here is the complete article on Self-Care by Everday Health:
