Self-care
Self-care is so important during this Holiday season…and truly any season.
When talking to others about your stress levels, short fuse, poor sleep, even low motivation, how often do you hear the question, “well are you taking care of yourself?” In a world in which people are expected to work long hours, skip lunches for meetings, and overlook time off, the idea of self-care is preached, yet can sometimes feel elusive. However, the world does seem to be changing. Over the last few years “self-care” has been publicized, encouraged, and heavily researched to show the working world the flaws of not regularly engaging in it and the benefits it carries mentally, emotionally and physically.
What we are finding is that, in the workplace when people take time away to rest, reconnect with others and ourselves, and recharge work performance improves, productivity increases and employee turnover decreases. On a more personal level, self-care has been shown to decrease depression and anxiety, increase social connection and intimacy, and improve overall happiness in day to day living.
Does Self-care mean you are weak? Are you too busy for Self-care?
For many, we know its’ benefits yet the stigma that self-care can carry still lingers in the background. This can also impact or sway your decision to have that much needed time away. The fear of looking “weak minded,” “not a team player,” or even feeling “too busy” plays a significant role in how we view ourselves in relation to others and our life. Recently, I met with someone who started eating their lunch outside of their office, sometimes even outside on a bench, after years of either eating at their desk or not at all. What they found was relief, connection to self, and an overall improved sense of being. This gave them the motivation to not only take on a new hobby outdoors but to take a week off of work after not having taken any “dedicated” vacation time in almost 2 years. We need to be able to take that time away from the office, be able to set boundaries in life, and be able to utilize our outlets to balance out our personal needs in order to function at our best. When we care for our self, this opens the door to more balance. But what happens when we don’t?
Burnout
Cue in burnout. Burnout is the opposite of that engagement we experience in self-care. It occurs when you’ve overworked yourself to the point of physical exhaustion and mental depletion. This leaves you feeling overwhelmed, inefficient with diminished interest in work, depressed, anxious and even resentful. Burnout is something that happens over time as less and less time is dedicated to self-care, however, increases in intensity as time passes.
Burnout’s antidote is an intensive reengagement with interpersonal interactions and rededication to a wellness routine. Being able to engage in various areas of self-care creates a healthy balance between mind and body. Each routine may look different and can change over time but that’s the point, to be able to adapt and adjust to our needs as necessary.
Some of the areas to find outlets in for self-care include:
- Emotional- talk with someone, read, journal, listen to music, anything that reconnects you with, yes… feelings.
- Environmental- take a walk, sit outside, enjoy the sun, anything that GROUNDS you with our physical surroundings.
- Intellectual- read, listen to podcasts, complete sudoku puzzles, anything that stimulates that part of your brain to think and learn.
- Physical- any form of exercise, spa days. Move your body!
- Social- meet with friends, volunteer, be with others.
- Spiritual- meditate, pray, reflect. Be Mindful!
Self-care as a daily act is so important. Don’t negate or put off doing things or taking time away for yourself. The version of you that thrives, and flourishes is one that focuses on balancing the many areas of life while keeping you and your needs in mind!
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