Women's Life Link Be Well, Be Happy, Be YOU!
Self-care is a word that is becoming increasingly popular, yet still not well defined. Maybe you have read about it and heard influencers say how important it is. However, you still might be confused about what it means and what self-care benefits you need the most. You might also be in a place where self-care isn’t a priority because other things seem more pressing. This is certainly understandable, considering how busy women’s lives can be. All that said, I hope you can take a good look at your life and make some decisions for your self-care that help you to live a happier, healthful life. Here is some basic information to help you get a better understanding.
What Is Self-Care?
In general, “self-care” includes most things you do that are intended to make you feel good (body, mind, and spirit). This involves feeling love and compassion for yourself. We can spend our lives taking care of others and being kind to them, but can certainly leave ourselves out of this scenario.
The self-care movement is about recognizing that we have needs that are only met by ourselves. It’s important to realize that when your reserves are running low it means there is something wrong and out of balance. This is time to do something before it gets worse. Ideally, consistent daily self-care is what we need, as it can prevent us from having severe ups and downs. If you are a busy mom or caregiver, also consider that you cannot pour from an empty cup.
It is crucial to realize, however, that not everything that makes you feel good is a result of self-care. There are moments when we may be tempted to utilize unhealthy coping mechanisms such as drugs, alcohol, overeating, and other forms of dangerous behavior.
Self-destructive habits may appear to provide a reprieve from anxious sensations, but the relief is just temporary. If you believe your situation has gotten out of hand, make sure to get help somewhere like Sunshine Behavioral Health. Getting your mental and physical health in order, as well as any damaging behaviors under control, is perhaps the most important thing you can do for yourself in terms of self-care and wellness.
Self-Care Benefits
Increased Productivity
Cultivating the ability to say “no” to activities that drain your energy and making time for the things that truly give you peace and joy has the potential to significantly make you more productive at work and home. This happens because a calmer state brings about greater concentration and focus on everything you do. Who doesn’t want to feel lighter and happier doing the dishes, feeding the kids, mowing the lawn, or doing paperwork?
Stronger Immune System
Certain self-care actions have been shown to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, according to research. On the surface, this indicates that your body is entering a peaceful, restorative state, which strengthens the immune system and provides you with greater protection against pathogens, disease, and system imbalances.
Increased Self-Esteem
Another amazing thing to put in the self-care benefits column is increased self-esteem. If you regularly devote time to self-care, self-love, compassion, and meeting your own needs, you are sending a powerful positive message to your subconscious. In particular, you acknowledge that you are important and you have intrinsic worth. This positive action helps you feel more confident in yourself. This might show up as fewer negative thoughts and doubt about your abilities. Others might even notice the change and begin to treat you differently.
The best thing is that it doesn’t take much to invoke this kind of effect. For example, self-care like taking a bubble bath, pampering yourself with the best shaving creams and other products, putting on your favorite skirt or shirt, and even starting a hobby can have a positive effect. The bottom line is that this positive feeling can be invoked through simple and complex activities.
Greater Self-Awareness
So many women go through life without knowing who they are deep down. Living this way is often exacerbated by not spending enough time loving and caring for yourself.
Because self-care entails taking time to consider what you want and need to be happy and satisfied with your life, the process of determining what this means is one of the most valuable parts of being human. Learning who you are through positive actions and intentions is the first step to deeper peace and life-fulfillment.
I recommend taking small steps to introduce more self-care into your life. This way the changes don’t seem too extreme. As you start to feel better and notice some benefits, you can always add more time and attention when you can. I also keep track of how new actions affect me. This helps me to know what is working and what is not.
