Why Is Self Care Needed?
What really is the meaning of self care???
Self care is a broad term that wraps around just about anything you to do be good to yourself. In a nutshell, its about being as kind to yourself as you would be to others. Its partly about knowing when your resources are running low, and stepping back to replenish them rather than letting them all drain away. It also involves showing self compassion to yourself in life in a way that helps to prevent even the possibility of a burnout. However, its important to note that not everything that feels good is self-care. We can all be tempted to use unhealthy coping mechanisms like drugs, alcohol, over eating and some risky behaviors. These self-destructive activities help us to regulate challenging emotions, but the relief is temporary.The difference between unhealthy coping mechanisms and self-care activities is that the latter is uncontroversially good for you. When practiced correctly, self-care has long-term benefit for the mind, the body, or both.
So...what are the benefits of self caring??
Better productivity- When you learn how to say no to things that over-extend you and start making time for things that matter more, you slow life down in a wonderful way. This brings your goals into sharper focus and helps you to concentrate on what youre doing.
Improved resistance to disease- There is evidence that most self-care activities activate your parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). What this means is that your body goes into a restful, rejuvenating mode, helping it to fortify its immune system. So, with better self-care often comes fewer colds, cases of flu and upset stomachs.
Enhanced self-esteem- When you regularly carve out time thats only about being good to yourself and meeting your own needs, you send a positive message to your subconscious. Specifically, you treat yourself like you matter and have intrinsic value. This can go a long way toward discouraging negative self talk and your critical inner voice.
Increased self-knowledge- Practicing self-care requires thinking about what you really love to do. The exercise of figuring out what makes you feel passionate and inspired can help you understand yourself a lot better. Sometimes, this can even spark a change in career or a reprioritization of previously abandoned hobbies.
More to give- When youre good to yourself, you might think youre being selfish. In truth, self-care gives you the resources you need to be compassionate to others as well. Giving compassion is a bit like filling a bucket; you cant fill someone elses if you dont have enough of your own!
What if I don't self care?
When you don't self care..... well imagine you are a coffee drinker and always need it to "take on the world" Ha so dear one- you have no coffee!
Honest! When you give yourself nothing back-you get nothing good out.
1. Health issues arise
2. Mental health spikes
3. Headaches
4. Loss of sleep, fatigue
5. If you have a job you start calling off or coming in late, distracted
6. Lack of friends/family activities
OMG so many things negative go on inside you and around you
Self caring doesn't mean you have to spend money, or think real big on things to show self kindness and love.
* Take a longer bath/shower with music on and candles, or even grab a book
* Paint your nails even get those toes too!
* Cook up something real good right from your kitchen, have a 2nd helping
* Clean your closet out with music on and dance a bit
* Pack a lunch and take a walk not really focusing on time or where...just walk
So please if you can start doing little things for yourself.....do so
@RumpleSteeleSkin Self-care is never selfish. Take time for yourself when you need it
@Kate
HI Kate good to see you
You are so right on self caring not being selfish. But I find being on here and a listener many do go through this, and its so hard for them to self care. So little by little we do gentle reminders for many on here. Also it keeps me in check sometimes to-yes put some time aside for myself
@RumpleSteeleSkin What do you mean by uncontroversially good for you?
@AffyAvo
HI Affy good you stopped by Here is what I meant
We can all be tempted to use unhealthy coping mechanisms like drugs, alcohol, over eating and some risky behaviors. These self-destructive activities help us to regulate challenging emotions, but the relief is temporary.The difference between unhealthy coping mechanisms and self-care activities is that the latter is uncontroversially good for you. When practiced correctly, self-care has long-term benefit for the mind, the body, or both.
uncontroversially-not likely to be disputed or to cause strife or quarrel : not relating to or arousing controversy.
When I used this word I meant that the bad self care things we might do that are unhealthy will not be debated,argued and such. As self care is kindness, love, affection to ourselves. If we do unhealthy habits none of what I shared is being kind.
I do know many deal with this-I was one of them. So I do understand on being confused or just not knowing the difference. I didn;t back them.I hope this helps
@RumpleSteeleSkin I've had nurses argue with me about my self-infusions. I also see you listed drugs as being unhealthy. So are you saying my IV drug use that can potentially save my life is not self care?
@AffyAvo
HI dear AffyNo hun if it is some medications you need then you need them to be better. I meant on recreational drug abuse is all. You do what you feel you need to do as you know your body then anyone. Do take care
@RumpleSteeleSkin this reminds me a bit of something from a book I read called "A Path with Heart" that taught a sort of compassion-focused or "heart-centered" mindfulness. The thing they said was that you have to do a lot of work on self-compassion to open up your heart and really fully care for others.
Self care feels like a similar thing to me. If we take better care of ourselves we end up also being able to care more for others.
@KrinkTheMellowUnicorn
HIya Krinkieboooo good to see youYes self compassion is very hard to show yourself in order to really get into self caring. But little at a time of kindness towards self can develope a good self care routine. I agree the more we feed ourselves the more we can give out
Self care feels like a similar thing to me. If we take better care of ourselves we end up also being able to care more for others
@RumpleSteeleSkin - it doesn't always feel obvious but i really think that is true
@RumpleSteeleSkin
Rumple, you are right. Very soon I will make the rest of the day me time with a cup of coffe with hubby, a long walk and a message, lateron another meditation. Thanks for reminder
@RumpleSteeleSkin
Rumple, you are right. Very soon I will make the rest of the day me time with a cup of coffe with hubby, a long walk and a message, lateron another meditation. Thanks for reminder
