When keeping up with responsibilities and daily demands, it’s easy to put taking care of yourself on the back burner. You may not realize it at the time, but when you are juggling countless tasks, the easiest way to make more time is to take away from those things you have planned for yourself. Do you work through lunch sometimes? Are you skipping your Pilates class in order to meet a deadline without canceling baking cookies for the PTA meeting? By putting other things before taking care of yourself, you may be causing yourself more harm than good.
You may justify letting other things take precedence because doing something for yourself feels selfish and indulgent. Most people who put themselves second, or third, or fourth do so until their body gives them a scary wake-up call. The bottom line is, not putting the simple things that are essential for good health first, will catch up with you sooner or later.
Nutritional Needs
In order to keep your body and mind healthy and in prime working condition, you need to take care of them. Pay attention to your diet. You want to eat a well-balanced diet to feed your body with the essential vitamins and minerals it needs to perform its best. Instead of just focusing on eating low-fat foods and switching to diet soda instead of soda with sugar, eat more wholesome foods.
Eating fruits and vegetables will provide you with vital nutrients your body is craving. Your body needs vitamins and minerals to promote its natural functions. Learn how different vitamins and minerals benefit your overall health. For example, vitamin D and calcium promote bone health where vitamin B5 vitamins can help to improve your skin, help wounds heal quicker, and reduce acne.
Proper Sleep
Instead of burning the midnight oil trying to check off more items on your to-do list, get the rest your body desperately needs. When you allow your body to rest, it not only improves your mental health, but it helps you to focus on the task at hand. Sleep has a significant impact on both your mental and physical well-being.
If you find that stress from your day is keeping you from sleeping, find a stress-relieving technique that works for you. Gentle stretching such as a yoga routine or taking the time to meditate before bed can help to clear your mind and promote restful slumber.
Have a bedtime routine. Set a time every night that you dedicate to getting yourself ready for a good night’s sleep. Avoid screens, caffeine, heavy meals, and excessive alcohol later in the day. In order to keep the benefits of a routine, you need to do your best to stick to it every night. Waking up rested and ready to face your day is a priceless reward for taking care of yourself.
Learn to Say No
Accepting requests from family or co-workers may feel like an obligation you can’t refuse, but you have to learn your limitations. It’s not an easy thing to learn how to do because you may feel guilty about saying no. By taking on additional tasks when you’re already under a lot of pressure with your own responsibilities, you can burn yourself out and struggle with anxiety and become more irritable.
Find Balance
Self-care isn’t just about eating right and getting enough rest. You have to find a healthy balance between your personal and professional life. Make time to enjoy life by doing things for yourself. Without balance, you can become exhausted, lose focus, and be less productive. You are ultimately responsible for your health and life choices; remember to take care of yourself.
