Our wellbeing is important. It’s crucial that we can look after our mental, emotional and physical health. But for some women, this isn’t always possible.
Trying to get the balance between work and home life right can take its toll. Whether you’re working full time and trying to make time to see friends and family, or you’re a mum who is trying to fit in everything around the school run, it can be easy to forget to take the time to look after yourself.
Self-care is so important, though. Here’s a look at why that is and how you can take some time for you.
Why is self-care important?
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, self-care is: “…taking the time to do things that help you live well and improve both your physical health and mental health. When it comes to your mental health, self-care can help you manage stress, lower your risk of illness, and increase your energy.”
Ultimately, you’re listening to your body’s needs and taking the time to fulfil them.
Therefore, self-care is important as it’s a means of looking after your mental and physical wellbeing. It doesn’t always mean that you’re responsible for this, however. While taking a day off work to read a book or catch up with friends is steered by you, in many cases self-care is about handing over the reins to someone else. You might book a massage or your friends to come to your house for that catch up.
This, in turn, is good for you on a personal level, helping to improve relationships with loved ones, and also for your work life.
Different ways to introduce self-care
There are lots of ways to incorporate self-care into your life. Some of these include:
- Looking after your body
It can be easy to forget to look after yourself, especially if you spend your time running around after the kids or trying to balance your workload with your home life. But taking time to introduce a simple skincare routine could be a good first step towards looking after yourself. A simple am/pm routine where you spend 15 minutes in the bathroom cleansing and pampering your face can be your moment just for you.
Likewise, when did you last do something different with your hair? Why not take time to improve its appearance with hair supplements and a nice conditioning treatment?
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- Setting boundaries
In the last few years particularly, the lines have blurred between work and home. Many of us are working into the evening because our laptop is within arm’s reach. But making that distinction and downing tools at the end of the work day is putting a boundary in place to help you focus on your downtime away from work.
Boundaries are also important within relationships. If you tend to go out with friends because you feel you have to, it’s ok to say no. In fact, it’s an act of self-care to do what makes you comfortable.
- Spending time with others
Having said that, it can be good for the soul to spend time with those you love. Book in a catch up with a friend and switch off from the daily grind.
Taking time for you in crucial for your wellbeing. Look after yourself.
