When someone asks you for help, you drop everything to help them. Your child needs a snack? On it. Your partner needs some advice? You’re right there. An estranged friend of yours needs to vent about her love life? Your other responsibilities can wait – you’ll stay on the phone with her for hours if it makes her feel better.
But let me ask you something – what do you do when YOU’RE the one who needs something or feels burnt out?
Do you drop everything to attend to your needs?
Do you prioritize your comfort and your wellbeing?
I think when it comes to looking out for #1, a lot of us could do better.
Sometimes, it feels selfish to put our own needs first. But self-care is never selfish. It’s what allows us to have more to give to others. It’s what gives us the strength to be the person those around us can really count on.
I’ll say it again: self-care isn’t selfish. You deserve to be taken care of.
Of course, that doesn’t mean you have to take a weekend-long bubble bath and shirk all of your other responsibilities to feel refreshed. (Or maybe it does. You do you, girl.) But most of the time, taking good care of yourself involves a lot of small yet intentional acts of self-love.
If you’re anything like a lot of women I know, you might have a tendency to overextend yourself. Here are a few ideas on how you can show yourself some love today and every day.
Social isolation can feel pretty, well, isolating. But keeping your distance doesn’t mean you can’t spend quality time with your closest friends. Set up some time to share a glass of wine on Houseparty with your best girlfriends. Be honest about how you’ve been feeling lately and how life’s going for you.
Show your body some love by feeding it delicious, nutritious foods. Skip the grab-and-go protein bar and make yourself that yummy avocado toast or egg-white omelet you keep seeing all over Pinterest. You’ll feel more energized for the whole rest of the day.
Pay attention to the way you talk to yourself throughout the day. If you notice you tend to use some negative self-talk when you make a mistake or things don’t go right, replace those phrases with something kinder. For example, “I’m bad at everything” could become “I’ll do better next time.” Grant yourself the same patience, compassion, and grace that you do to the people you love.
Regular exercise makes a major difference in your mood, your health, and your overall wellbeing. Prioritizing your physical health will give you the stamina to tackle everything else that needs to get done. Try and find a form of exercise you actually enjoy, whether it’s yoga, running, or participating in a virtual Zumba class a few times a week.
Have a lot of thoughts and emotions running through your head? Write them down! Take a moment each day to write down how you’re feeling and what you’ve accomplished. Not only will it help you keep track of your progress, but it’ll also help you process your emotions and figure out how to better take care of yourself. It makes a great addition to your nightly routine.
Take some time to unplug from your laptop and social media and really be present instead. Make a habit of putting screens away a few hours before bed to help you wind down. If you’ve noticed that you spend way too much time scrolling and liking, consider going off of social media completely for a week or so. (You’ll be surprised at how much time it frees up for other things!)
Even the most awesome among us can’t do everything alone. If you find yourself struggling, call a loved one up and ask them for help. Anyone who really cares about you will be glad you did.
If it’s your mental or physical health that needs extra care, love yourself enough to seek a professional’s help. Nowadays, you can access high-quality therapy and medical attention remotely through telehealth providers.
Did you know that 1 in 3 adults don’t get enough sleep? Experts recommend that adults get anywhere from 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. If you’re not getting enough shuteye, make your sleep more of a priority. Plan when you’ll go to sleep and when you’ll wake up, and do your best to stick to that schedule.
And if you’re feeling super exhausted right now, take a quick nap. Trust me, you’ll feel so much better.
Retail therapy is real – but it’s best when it’s done intentionally. Treat yourself to environmentally conscious, high-quality personal, and home care products you’ll use every single day. Even something as small as upgrading your skincare routine or choosing a gentler, more fragrant dish soap can make a difference.
Put your phone down and close your laptop. Then, take five minutes to be still, sit with your own thoughts, and focus on your breathing. This is as simple as it gets as far as self-care goes, but it can really help you clear your mind and relax.
Just in case no one’s told you this lately, let me just say – you deserve to be happy. No matter how many things you have on your plate, no matter how many miles long your to-do list is, you deserve to feel taken care of, peaceful, and loved.
And no matter how many other people you have in your corner, there’s no substitute for self-love.
Take a few moments today to do something that brings you joy. After you do, you’ll feel reenergized to lift up those around you, tackle your many to-dos, and reach your potential.
Hope You Enjoyed the Read!
