Guest writer for Wake Up World
No matter who you are, what you’ve done or what stage of life you’re at, there’s ONE thing you absolutely must incorporate into your life. And that is self-care.
Without self-care, you can spend your life perpetually stressed, sick, and exhausted. Without taking the time to care for yourself, you can also miss out on the truly important things in life like spending time with loved ones or doing what makes you happy.
Neglecting and ignoring your needs is not noble. It’s not a badge that you should wear proudly. Putting everything and everyone else above your physical, mental, emotional or spiritual health is a sign of martyrdom, low self-esteem, and workaholism – not selflessness or a good work ethic.
As a person who has the tendency to avoid my issues by escaping into an avalanche of work and responsibilities – and has fallen chronically ill as a result – I know a thing or two about the importance of self-care.
Self-care is something we are rarely taught about in school and is often a subject neglected by our parents growing up. Take a few seconds to reflect: Who taught you how to take care of physical, emotional, mental AND spiritual needs when you were little? If you’re like most people, you will draw a blank. It’s time that we take seriously this vital missing link in our education and teach ourselves how to care for our needs. Why? Because no one else is going to do it for us!
This article is one of the most important pieces I’ve written – and I’ve written hundreds of articles for years and years. You’re welcome to print out, write down or journal about any of the suggestions below because they WILL change your life in some way. And remember, you can always bookmark this page for future reference.
What is Self-Care?
Self-care means taking steps to look after yourself and your physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual needs. Self-care starts with the acknowledgment that you are responsible for your wellbeing. Once you are able to take responsibility for yourself, you’ll be able to function in a more relaxed and grounded way. All areas of your life will improve once you take time to nurture your needs. Self-care is an integral part of self-love which is the practice of being kind and compassionate towards yourself.
Are You Neglecting Self-Care? Here are 17 Signs
Pay attention to the following red flags. If you are neglecting self-care, you will experience:
- Constant tiredness and fatigue
- Irritability (little things annoy you)
- Poor sleep quality
- Muscle tension
- Chronic illnesses (e.g. colds, flu, infections)
- Anxiety and worry
- Paranoia
- Neglecting family or friend time
- Obsessive rumination (mind won’t shut off)
- Constant low-grade depression
- More dread than excitement
- Disconnection from your body
- No time to do what makes you happy
- All work and no play
- Feelings of emptiness
- Negative and self-sabotaging thoughts
- Low self-worth and insecurity
I’m sure there are many signs I’ve missed, but I hope I’ve given you a good picture.