Women's Life Link Be Well, Be Happy, Be YOU!
No matter what you do, how old you are, or what your health status is, it’s important to take care of yourself with consistency and fervor. While it may not be possible to do this 100% of the time, making an effort can greatly improve your mood, health, and even your relationships. Unfortunately, too many of us have cleaved to the idea that treating ourselves well is somehow wrong or selfish. This happens more frequently with women who have families and have limited time and budget. There is, however, a way to care for yourself that actually gives you more energy for those you love. Check out these simple self-care practices to energize your life.
Let Yourself Indulge Occasionally
Too often, we’re told that indulging in something important to us is selfish and a waste of our time and money. But is it, really? After all, we deserve to feel happy and receive the things and experiences that expand our joy. This can be anything from eating your favorite dessert to traveling to the beach for the weekend. Indulging in things that you don’t do often is a treat and tells us that we are worth time, effort, and even financial investment.
Another example is treating ourselves to spa days, massages, and even cosmetic procedures such as breast augmentation, eyelid surgery, peels, facials, micro-needling, etc. Though doing so might not appeal to some women, but that’s the point. We must choose the indulgences that make us happy and bring a sense of confidence and comfort. Each one of these things could be life-affirming to a woman who has struggled with self-esteem issues.
Take a Break
I believe that taking a break during the day is imperative to health and wellness. I also believe that taking extended breaks periodically is important. I do recommend putting your breaks (long or short) on the calendar, as you will more likely follow through with them. Make a list of things you can do on your daily short breaks. I like to stretch, walk, meditate, and play with my pets. If you have kids and a job, you will obviously need to plan ahead and get the appropriate help to make a longer getaway happen.
If you are especially driven by your accomplishments at work or home, breaking the cycle is important for balance. We can get so caught up in making things better for our boss, family, and others in general. The key to keeping yourself energized for it all is paying as much attention to yourself as you do everything else.
Connect with Others Regularly
It’s important to connect with those around you through verbal and non-verbal communication. For instance, take an evening to eat and play games with your partner and children rather than just staring at the TV or your phones. Also, make an effort to check on friends and family members who don’t live with you. Letting them know you care is also an opportunity for them to let you know the same. This helps you to feel loved and valuable.
If you have many people to which you want to connect, put their names on your calendar to remind you to contact them. I know some women are not that structured and actually hate making lists and feeding a calendar. However, I believe it’s a way to make relationships more of a priority. I recommend just trying it to see if it makes a difference in how you feel.
Allow Yourself to Feel
When things get chaotic and stressful, it’s common for some women to push away their feelings. This happens because some things are too complex to deal with when there is a lot going on. However, the best thing to do for yourself and your emotional well-being is to allow yourself to feel all emotions as they come up. I understand having to put off some intense emotions for a bit but don’t ignore them completely.
Some emotions like grief, anger, and sadness can get stagnant and cause harm to mindset, emotional stability, and even your physical body. It’s best to let emotions come to the surface freely. This goes for joy, elation, and gratitude. Yes, we can hold back all of those positive, feel-good emotions as well.
Feeling emotions is one of the most important parts of being human. Trust that your inner being knows what to do when emotions arise. Relax and let them pass like the water trickling in a stream. You can even visualize this if you come up against some difficult emotions that seem to come too hard and fast.
