Why You Should Practice Self-Care

HOW SELF-CARE CAN AFFECT YOUR GOALS AND HAPPINESS

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Let’s face it; self-care is something that tends to get overlooked. 

It’s so easy for personal needs to become an afterthought, an old pot left to simmer on the back-burner as we rush through life. 

I used to be very big into self-care, I was all about it in school, but then I graduated, and life became, well, more complicated. 

I was too busy, and to be honest, a little depressed. I had lost my direction, and I felt stuck. 

And, as I continued to spiral, self-care went out the window. 

It honestly wasn’t until this last year that I have finally made time for myself again, and what a change it has made!

INCORPORATING SELF-CARE INTO YOUR ROUTINE 

There are many benefits to taking the time to care for one’s self. Having a good Self-Care regimen in place can, 

• Reduce stress (which if left unmanaged can lead to health problems down the road)
• Improve quality of sleep (also crucial for good health)
• Improve confidence
• Increase productivity 

I only see benefits here! 

Once you make YOU a priority, you will have so much more to give others, because let’s face it, you can’t pour from an empty cup. 

“An empty lantern provides no light. Self-care is the fuel that allows your light to shine brightly.”

– Unknown

INVEST IN YOURSELF

It is time to toss aside the notion that it is selfish to put yourself first. 

Do you remember that speech the flight attendants give before each flight?

The one about securing your air mask first before helping others? 

Self-care is a lot like that. 

You must care for yourself, and without doing so, you cannot continue to give to others and, more importantly, YOURSELF. 

IDEAS FOR INVESTING IN YOU

• Practice mindfulness
• Make time for your passions
• Fuel your body with right foods
• Take up journaling
• Practice gratitude daily
• Read or listen to an inspirational book or just something you love
• Get a proper amount of rest
• Go for a walk or another form of exercise you enjoy 
• Try meditation 
• Start your day by reciting positive affirmations 
• Unplug yourself from media and enjoy a still moment with your thoughts
• Try something new

All of these are lovely ways to start implementing self-care into your daily routine. 

IMPLEMENTING SELF-CARE

There are a few steps when to take when starting your journey of self-care.

First, you must STOP the excuses.

Too often, I hear phrases like, “I just don’t have time for me.” 

Life is busy, but we MUST make time for ourselves.

You are not a machine, and even computers need time to reboot.

Second, you should surround yourself with positive influences.

Who we surround ourselves with has a HUGE impact on who we become!

So surround yourself with those who inspire and uplift you.

Next, you should refrain from harmful speech.

Our brains are very powerful, and over time we begin to internalize negative dialogue.

And don’t forget to schedule time for you! This way, self-care is no longer an afterthought.

Be sure to tidy your home. A clean home can do wonders on the psyche!

A great book that breaks cleaning down into concise, actionable steps, as well as goes over the effects of having a tidy space, is Marie Kondo’s book, Spark Joy.

It is important to make time for your passions!

Schedule out time in your routine for the things you love. You deserve it.

Learn to practice mindfulness!

Start saying no. It’s alright.

YOU ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYONE ELSE’S HAPPINESS!

These are just a few steps you can start implementing on your journey of rediscovery.

MAKE THE CHANGE

Today is a great day to start. There are so many small ways to start caring for yourself. 

• Take a day off
• Set goals
• Learn something new
• Enjoy nature
• Establish a healthy routine
• Intake inspiring content 
• Stop comparing yourself to others
• Stop limiting yourself

“You begin to fly when you let go of self-limiting beliefs and allow your mind and aspirations to rise to greater heights.”

―Brian Tracy

Self-care is SO important. Stop neglecting yourself and start making positive changes today. 

Taking care of YOU will affect more than just yourself, it will affect the kind of friend, co-worker, parent, family member, and human being you can be. 

YOUR TURN

Now that we have gone over steps and ideas for self-care, it’s your turn to implement them!

Start small and schedule out a few minutes of YOU time each day! 

If you need a little more guidance when it comes to establishing a healthy routine, be sure to check out my article How To Create The Perfect Routine!

Want to learn more about working for yourself and achieving your best life? 

Stick around for future articles and be sure to SUBSCRIBE for our FREE mind reboot camp, as well as receive an easy printable goal breakdown worksheet! 

Also, be sure to check out our cute Printable Self Care Planner!

What are some self-care tasks you like to include in your routine? What are your biggest obstacles when it comes to putting yourself first? 

I’d love to know. Let me know in the comments below! 

Have a lovely day!