During the holiday season you’re out of your normal routine and it’s easy to put your self-care on the back-burner while you prioritise commitments to family and friends. Then when you go back to work, you are so busy catching up on the work that has mounted up while you were away, you still neglect your self-care and it can be a while before you start to carve out time for things that benefit your well-being.
Why is self-care so important?
- It’s good for your self-esteem – When you constantly put other people’s needs ahead of your own, you are basically telling yourself that you’re not important, and not worthy of your own care and attention. Spending time with people you love is energising and an important part of a healthy work/life balance, but if that time is constantly spent serving others, it drains your energy and undermines your sense of self-worth.
- You can’t drink from an empty well – Contrary to the common misconception that overworking is an admirable quality to possess, overworking depletes your energy; physically, emotionally and mentally. It makes you less productive and more disorganised, you become more anxious and stressed and it undermines your self-confidence. Taking regular breaks to move your body gets the blood circulating and lifts your energy and mood. When you take the opportunity to rest your brain and focus on something else, it often clears the way for new ideas and inspiration.
- NOBODY can drink from an empty well – When you’re physically, emotionally and mentally depleted you are incapable of being helpful to anyone, including the people that are relying on you. In the pre-flight safety briefing on planes, parents are told attach their own oxygen mask before attending to their children’s. This is a great example of the importance of looking after yourself first so you CAN help others next. If you pass out from lack of oxygen because you’re trying to help someone else first you won’t be useful to anyone including yourself.
- You can start to enjoy your life instead of just existing – Taking time out to do things you enjoy, enriches your life. The motivation, inspiration and joy created from taking time for self-care reflects in your other activities. Constantly feeling like you’re ‘missing out’ while everyone else is having fun, leaves you feeling resentful and frustrated.
Self-care is not necessarily about expensive, self-indulgent activities. It can be as simple as a walk on the beach, stopping to admire a beautiful flower, taking a nap, making time to meditate, giving yourself a spa night, phoning a friend, reading a book, journaling and, my favourite, doing something that used to make you happy as a kid e.g. dancing, water slide or swings.
Having a Kinesiology session can be an excellent way to help re-connect to your joy and remind you of what you need for your own well-being. Book an appointment today!