At the end of each day, just before you fall asleep, you probably run through the day’s events. Perhaps you have a mental checklist too. Did I empty the trash, did I lock up, have I laid out my clothes for tomorrow? And a few more. But have you ever asked yourself “Did I take care of myself today?”
That is a question you probably never thought of asking, whether you work at a multinational corporation, run your own home based business, you’re a homemaker, student, parent, caregiver or have a professional career.
Looking after yourself is usually right at the bottom of everyone’s priority list. Either you don’t have the time in the middle of your busy schedule, or there’s an in-built sense of guilt that prevents you from what you term “selfishness” or “self-indulgence.”
But traveling by airplane gives you some perspective. The cabin crew’s instructions are very clear. “First put on your own oxygen mask and then try to help others, even if they’re your own kids.” This simple instruction has a much deeper meaning. It tells you that unless you care for yourself, you are pretty much useless at caring for anyone else.
The Covid-19 pandemic has taught the world the value of self care. We learned to take responsibility for our own safety, and became proactive in protecting ourselves against the virus.
Taking these lessons further, we slowly began to understand the importance of looking after ourselves, both short and long term. Find more resources here: https://restanddigest.com.au
Looking After Yourself For Life: A Handy Guide
Whatever your age or health status, there’s no better time than right now to get started on looking after yourself for life. Let today be the first day of the rest of your life.
Get Some Information: Real self care goes beyond bubble-baths or binging on chocolate eclairs. These are short term, ad hoc solutions that will certainly not sustain throughout your lifetime. Read self care books, join a local self care group, talk to a professional life-skills coach or look for self care strategies online. Once you have enough relevant data, customize and trim it to fit your own special circumstances and needs.
Analyze: Take the time and make the effort to have an honest conversation with yourself. What are the barriers and opportunities, your strengths and talents, and what areas need work? Journaling is a great way to get your thoughts and ideas down and in order.
Organize: Clutter and mess are sure-fire ways to increase stress and anxiety. Unmade beds, a sink full of dirty dishes, messy closets, towels on the bathroom floor, laundry to be done, overflowing trash can – all these can increase your anxiety. Organize your paperwork and closets, de-clutter whenever you get time, shred unwanted papers and keep your important documents in a safe place.
Resolve: Make exercise a part of your life. Avoid taking on complicated or expensive exercises. Look for those activities that you can access easily. Solo activities such as walking or running are great times to think and plan, while group activities such as aerobics or team sports help you to maintain social connections. Some activities such as yoga or hiking can go both ways. Whatever activity you choose, make a schedule and stick to it.
Nutrition: While you’re young, your body can take a lot of punishment. Grabbing a coffee en route to work, skipping lunch, binging on junk food when hunger pangs strike, too much processed stuff are all recipes for disaster as you grow older. Be mindful of what you eat and drink. This doesn’t mean that you sacrifice taste and fun. Everything in moderation, regular timings and focus on fresh veg and fruit with every meal are the happy routes to good nutrition.
Hydration: Drink plenty of fluids in the form of water, juices or soups. Avoid caffeinated and aerated drinks because they have a high level of sugar.
Work-Life Balance: Though this term has become a cliche today, it still means a great deal in your self care routine. Set boundaries at work so that you get enough time with your loved ones. There’s no point in working 24×7 for a straight week and then sleeping it off during the weekend. Instead, find small ways to connect with your family, have lunch with your spouse or kids once in a week, plan a movie night, catch the latest show in town with your significant other. This will help you to destress and also connect with the most important people in your life.