Self-Care Matters Because You Matter
“Self-care” is a term that has become increasingly popular in the last decade. When people think of self-care, they often think of bubble baths, facials or dinners out. And whilst these can all be acts of self-care, at its heart there is so much more to it.
What is Self-Care?
I think of self-care as any form of nourishment for your body, mind, heart or soul. It’s any activity which restores, preserves or enhances your health in some way.
“The simplest definition is self-care is health care.”
- Suzy Reading
Self-care can seem like a simple concept, which in turn would suggest it’s easy to do. However, it is one of the most overlooked and under prioritised practices in the human experience. I know for myself, when I feel overwhelmed and stressed, one of the first things to drop off my schedule is often self-care.
REACTIVE V PROACTIVE SELF-CARE (& WHY YOU NEED A BIT OF BOTH)
Have you ever felt like your energy bank is empty? That you’ve got nothing left to give? Nada. Done. That is a sign that you’re physically and emotionally depleted. In this state, it’s a real struggle to manage your usual day-to-day activities, let alone any additional stressors which come your way. You will be more vulnerable to overwhelm, burnout, anxiety and depression, as well as other mental health concerns and disorders.
I believe self-care, like many other psychological tools, should be implemented both reactively (in response to emotional exhaustion) and proactively (a consistent practice every day of your life, regardless of your current mood state).
When used reactively it can help replenish and restore your energy reserves, and bring you back to a place of balance and calm. But wouldn’t it be better if you could minimise or avoid feeling overwhelmed and burned out at all? That’s where proactive self-care comes in; an intentional, regular and consistent practice of self-care. Intentionally committing to regular self-care, regardless of how you feel (positive or negative) has an abundance of health, personal and relational benefits. It will enhance your physical and emotional resilience, leaving you better able to cope with life’s stressors or crises when they come along. Therefore, you’ll be less vulnerable to experiencing emotional exhaustion, or any of the distressing thoughts, feelings and physical sensations that come along with it.
5 ESSENTIAL REASONS FOR COMMITTING TO Regular Self-Care
Still need convincing of the importance of prioritising regular, consistent self-care? Keep reading for five essential benefits which demonstrate why self-care is a necessity not a luxury.
01 | Self-care is emotionally restorative
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, depleted or burned out, intentionally increasing your self-care practice (i.e. reactive self-care) will help you recover. If you practice regular self-care anyway (i.e. proactive self-care), you’ll already know what is (and isn’t) most effective at nourishing you. This means you can quickly identify and implement the most appropriate self-care strategies needed for restoration and a more speedy recovery.
02 | Self-care builds emotional resilience
You’ll be better able to cope with everyday life stresses, as well as crises when they arise. Regular self-care helps you “bounce back” quicker and easier, to re-establish a sense of balance and calm in your life.
03 | Self-care protects and improves your mental health
You’ll be less vulnerable to developing feelings of overwhelm, burnout, guilt and shame, as well as mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression. Furthermore, people who regularly and consistently practice self-care are more likely to feel positive emotions such as happiness, humour, inspiration, excitement, interest, forgiveness and hope.
04 | Self-care protects AND improves your physical health
When we feel stressed we release a hormone called Cortisol (sometimes called “The Stress Hormone”). Prolonged high levels of cortisol are associated with higher blood pressure, increased abdominal fat, lowered immunity and inflammatory responses in the body, decreased bone density, blood sugar imbalances, impaired cognitive performance and suppressed thyroid function. Self-care reduces stress, thus protecting against such medical conditions.
05 | Self-care improves your relationships
This is an important one! One of the biggest obstacles to self-care is the erroneous belief that practicing self-care is selfish. But research and clinical evidence suggests the opposite. The more we care for our physical and mental health, the more able we are to be fully present, engaged, connected and communicative with those around us, including our partner, children, friends and colleagues. Protecting and replenishing your emotional energy is an essential tool for nurturing the relationships you care about.
“You can’t pour from an empty cup. Take care of yourself first”
- Unknown
BUT… HOW EXACTLY WILL SELF-CARE BETTER YOUR LIFE?
I’ve hopefully built a good case for the unquestionable benefits of a regular self-care practice. And if asked, you would likely agree to its importance. But I urge you to consider why it is important for you?
What are the specific benefits self-care will bring to your life?
To fully commit to a regular, consistent practice of self-care, you need to be fully bought in to exactly how it will benefit you and the people you care about the most.
want to learn more about self-care?
If you found this article useful, then you can dive deeper into this topic in the follow up article Value-Based Self-Care: What it is and Why you need it, where I share a simple but effective three-step strategy for identifying your why. Establishing clarity on this will help to cultivate motivation and a more consistent and committed practice of self-care. Thus, more benefits!
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