Self-Care is Essential
Intentionally working towards a life with vision, purpose, clarity, and enjoyment – taking care of mind and body – is the greatest gift we can give ourselves AND those around us.
The Bottom Line – Self-care is NOT selfish, its essential for us AND those around us!
- Self-care is not about indulgence; it is about taking care of oneself so that we can do the things we need to and want to do, including caring for others.
- Self-care is essential for our physical and emotional well-being.
- By design, I.Liv. incorporate key self-care activities into our daily lives through I.Liv. Plan and Assess practices and adoption of I.Liv. Fundamental Mind-Body habits. There is always room for personal flair everyone brings to their self-care practices. Whatever gives you energy and joy counts!
What is Self-Care?
- Self-care is the practise of taking an active role in protecting one’s own well-being and happiness. It is about taking care of oneself to be healthy and capable to do *all* the things we need to and want to accomplish day in and day out.
- Self-Care is not about bubble baths, pedicures and chocolate! There can be room for treats, but proper self-care is the activities we do to regularly maintain of our health and well-being, including all the steps we take to manage stressors in our life.
- Key categories for taking care of ourselves:
- Physical Self-care – Taking care of our hygiene, proper nutrition and hydration, regular sleep routine, having a regular exercise routine, seeking medical help when needed, etc.
- Emotional Self-care – actively maintaining a positive mindset, kind self-talk, practicing gratitude, proactively managing stress and anxiety in our life, meditation, incorporating regular acts of kindness into our life, etc.
- Giving ourselves a break – spending time in nature, making time for hobbies we enjoy…and yes even making room for a regular indulgence (ex. bubble bath, spa treatment, etc.).
- Just as there are self-care practices that are proven to bring us significant benefits, there are no hard and fast rules for what exactly counts as self-care. Everyone’s definition is uniquely their own – whatever gives you energy and sustained job counts!
Why self-care matters?
Self-care is NOT selfish, but essential as it provides:
- Better mental health – clinically proved to reduce or eliminate anxiety and depression, reduce stress, improve concentration, minimize frustration and anger, increase happiness, improve energy, and more.
- Enhanced physical state – From a physical health perspective, self-care has been clinically proven to prevent heart disease, stroke and cancer. It directly contributes to life longevity.
- Improved emotional well-being – Fosters resilience and equips us to manage stress.
Self-care benefits or ourselves SHOULD be enough, but just so we don’t SHOULD all over ourselves even in our self-development efforts, we can consider the value our self-care brings to those around us. When we feel our best, we do our best, to the benefit of others – our family, work team, friends, etc.
Let’s work to build the habits to care for ourselves, if not for our own benefit to start, then for the value it will bring to those around us we care for most!
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