You Deserve to Treat Yourself Better: Why Self-Care is Necessary
You work hard and you deserve to treat yourself right, right? The problem is, we rarely do that. In fact, many of us don’t make self-care a priority at all.
Many times we associate the idea of self-care with being wasteful or unproductive — even though that couldn’t be further from the truth.
If you want to take better care of yourself, start by understanding why it’s so important in the first place. This article on why self-care is necessary will help you see how beneficial it can be.
You Are Worth It
Sometimes it can be difficult to remember that we’re worth a little extra effort. We’re busy and pressed for time, so taking a bubble bath or putting on our favorite lotion might seem like unnecessary luxuries.
However, these small indulgences are important and necessary in maintaining an overall sense of well-being. If you don’t take care of yourself, you’ll inevitably burn out and no one can achieve their professional goals without dedication and passion.
For me, being kinder towards myself is all about nurturing my mind, body, and soul so I can feel healthy both inside and out. And guess what? You deserve it too.
Simplify & Declutter Your Life
Simplifying your life may sound like an overwhelming task, but it can be broken down into little tasks that can be tackled daily. The easiest way to make room for self-care is by letting go of unnecessary and unimportant things in our lives.
If we’re constantly surrounded by clutter, whether physical or mental, we’ll have a hard time giving ourselves enough space to focus on self-care. Start with one small task (or idea) each day that will make your life less cluttered and more organized and schedule it for two weeks straight.
When you see how simple it was, schedule another two weeks of decluttering into your calendar. By doing so consistently, you’ll soon find yourself living with less stress overall.
Do Something Special Just For You
It can be hard sometimes to prioritize self-care. There’s always something we could be doing, some errand we need to run, someone we need to meet, some goal we want to accomplish and it’s easy for self-care and taking time for ourselves (as much as possible) to fall by the wayside.
But being kind and gracious towards yourself is so important. You deserve special things; you deserve a trip or a movie or a pedicure or even just an extra hour of sleep on Sunday morning before work.
If you don’t make time for yourself, no one else will.
Get More Rest and Energy
With so much going on in our lives, it can be easy to neglect self-care. We’re taught that we have to go above and beyond and for good reason. Working hard and keeping up with our responsibilities is part of how we gain respect from others, as well as how we accomplish all that we want.
But, sometimes doing more isn’t doing better; and when you don’t take care of yourself in little ways, it can lead to burnout or even major life changes like quitting your job or ending a relationship.
Eat Healthily
The food you eat makes a huge difference in how you feel. The healthiest way to eat and what your body needs most is a plant-based diet full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. It’s that simple!
Your focus should be on unprocessed foods; try avoiding highly processed products whenever possible. Not only will your body thank you for taking care of it, but so will your mind and bank account.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), eating healthy can save over $2,000 per year due to lower health costs and lower grocery bills.
Boost Your Self Esteem
It’s no secret that most humans value their own needs second to those of others. We care for loved ones, friends, and even total strangers regularly without a second thought.
While it’s important not to put your well-being on hold to keep other people happy — after all, it’s 2022 and everyone should take a moment or two out of their day for themselves.
You must make sure you don’t completely forget about yourself. After all, taking care of someone else doesn’t mean neglecting yourself entirely; it just means that when you’re spending time with someone else (especially if they have needs), be sure not to forget about your own need for self-care.
Take Time Out to Treat Yourself
Life can get pretty stressful at times, so you must take time out of your day to do something nice for yourself. It doesn’t have to be expensive, like a manicure or a massage — just something small that makes you feel good.
Maybe it’s enjoying a warm bubble bath, spending some extra time with your favorite TV show, or listening to your favorite music as you drive home from work.
Whatever it is, treat yourself now and then, and it will come back around in terms of good moods, higher productivity at work, and more fun times in general.
Leave the Guilt Behind
When you feel bad, it’s hard to take care of yourself. This can happen for several reasons: you might be exhausted from your hectic life or frustrated that you aren’t getting as much done as you want.
Learning how to leave the guilt behind will allow you to focus on things that make you feel good about yourself, like buying new clothes or going out with friends. The more positive things in your life, the better your self-care will be.
Set Some Boundaries
When it comes to self-care, you must maintain a realistic sense of what you can handle. It’s fine to say no once in a while. You are allowed not to take on every single extra responsibility, even if people start acting like they might die if they don’t get your help.
If something will mean too much stress or lead you down a path that makes you feel out of control, make sure it doesn’t happen by setting boundaries and sticking with them. Setting limits on what kinds of things you do for other people (and then sticking with them) is essential for taking care of yourself properly.
Final Thoughts
Every once in a while, it’s important to take a step back and ask yourself, What do I need? If you’re anything like me, though, answering that question can be difficult. It’s easy for others to tell us what we need and even easier for us to ignore them or forget about their suggestions entirely.
This leads us into self-care territory and that territory isn’t something you should enter unprepared. To help you get started on a self-care regimen that works for you, try using the tips above for taking better care of yourself.
