Why Does Self-care Matter?

If there is one thing I have learnt from facing adversities it is the importance of self-care. Life definitely doesn’t come with a map or a GPS and we all experience twists and turns. Everyday challenges to business losses to traumatic events such as death of loved ones, life-altering incidents or serious illnesses each one leaves with a deep impact. Whatever be our initial reaction, the idea is to heal from it and turn into an event that propels us to take care of ourselves better.

The truth is we can’t be a better anything – spouse, parent, boss, employee, friend, neighbor, acquaintance, if we are burned out and not in control of our emotions. A balanced self-care routine includes activities that we do around all the 6 spheres –

• Physical

• Psychological

• Emotional

• Spiritual

• Relationships

• Workplace

While we may be doing incredibly well in one area, the effort is to be bring in a balance in all to lead a more fulfilled life.

What does self-care really mean?

Self-care is paying and giving attention to supporting all aspect of our own health. It is about doing a set of activities consistently on a daily basis to enhance our well-being. At the core, self-care is about fostering the relationship and connection we have with our-self. Taking time for ourselves, to slow down, reflect and enjoy life and not trying to dismiss the little things as everyday life takes over. Putting “me time” on the back burner is a major contributor to why we can all feel run-down, overwhelmed and frenzied.

You might feel it’s selfish to keep yourself as the priority but remember the wise old saying “you can’t fill from an empty cup”. When you don’t take care of YOU, nobody wins. 

Why you need to implement a self-care practice as quickly as today?

1. Stress & Anxiety Reduction

• Triggers the relaxation response and gets you feeling relaxed
• By slowing down and doing things that feel good we activate our parasympathetic nervous system into “rest and digest”.

2. Boosts Happiness & Joy

• Hormones are chemicals produced by different glands across our body that travel through the bloodstream. They act as messengers and play a part in many bodily processes including mood regulation.
• Certain hormones are known to help promote positive feelings, including happiness and pleasure.
• Self-care can assist in activating these “feel good chemicals” in the brain, such as , Endorphin, Oxytocin, Serotonin and Dopamine.