We spend a great deal of our time nurturing others. We also get caught up in the day to day workings of our lives and we forget one very important thing ... to look after ourselves.
As a result, we become worn out, stressed out and run down.
Self-care is so important. Sometimes we have the belief that in order to be a good mother, wife, sister, daughter, manager, employee etc we need to put others needs before ours. That anything other than this is overly indulgent or selfish, but this couldn’t be further from the truth.
When we take care of ourselves, the people in our life get the best of us, instead of what’s left of us. A happy, healthy and vibrant you will create a happy, healthy and vibrant home life, work life and personal life.
Here are 5 signs you need to ramp up your self-care right now and some tips on the best ways to make that happen.
1. YOU FEEL LIKE YOU’RE ON AN EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER RIDE
You feel impatient, irritable and like tears could start flowing at any minute. You feel happy one moment and then completely miserable the next. You feel hormonal but it isn’t even that time of the month.
Self-care tip:
Your body is sending you a message to take some time out. It’s time to do something that will help you relax, that will ease your mind and bring some joy into your life. Put the to-do list aside and schedule in some time for a relaxing bath with Epsom salts or essential oils. Do some Yoga, go for a nice long walk outside in the sunshine or take 5 minutes to just breathe. Take some time out to Retreat Yourself
2. YOUR THOUGHTS ARE REALLY NEGATIVE
You’ve been really hard on yourself lately. Maybe you’re not where you thought you should be. Maybe you think you should be doing better or more or something different. Either way you have been really critical of yourself lately. Your negative thoughts and feelings are making you feel like crap.
Self-care tip:
Let me remind you of something … you my dear, are one incredible, amazing and beautiful person. We are often harder on ourselves then we are on anyone else. Would you speak to a child or your best friend the way you have been speaking to yourself? You deserve better gorgeous. Write yourself a self-love list. What are the things you love about yourself? What do you do really well? What do you need to remind yourself of right now? Jot down 2 affirmations that you are going to say to yourself each day over the next few weeks. Make them positive and present tense e.g. “I am amazing, beautiful, strong and courageous.” Or “I deeply and profoundly love and accept myself exactly as I am.”
3. YOUR DOING EVERYTHING FOR EVERYONE … BUT YOU
Even when you don’t feel like you have time, you make time for others. Their needs are important and you want to be there for them. But at the end of the day, there is little time left for you. You feel overspent and at times resentful that you don’t get a moment of rest or down time.
Self-care tip:
Recognise that your needs are just as important as everyone else. They are possibly more important because when your needs are met you feel more happy and energised and are able to easily give more to others. Chat to a loved one or friend and see if you can schedule in an afternoon for yourself. Use this time to do something just for you.
4. YOU’RE EXHAUSTED
You’re tired … really tired. Your body aches, your eyes burn, your body is begging you for rest.
Self-care tip:
Fatigue is your body’s way of telling you to slow down. Often we try to push through fatigue and instead drink coffee or snack on sugary foods. This puts a temporary fix on the problem but doesn’t actually address it. Make rest and sleep your priority for the next week. Turn off the TV and head to bed 20 minutes earlier. Take in some deep breaths and let go of the challenges from the day and try and ease into sleep. Find time to rest throughout the day e.g. 10 minutes on your lunch break. Use this time to stop the thoughts, breathe deep and come back into the present moment – this is your time to rest.
5. YOU FEEL TOTALLY OVERWHELMED
The list of to-dos is endless and overwhelming. You have so many things going on and no idea what to do or where to start. It all seems too big and too much. It’s smothering and you don’t know what to do about it.
Self-care tip:
Sometimes life can get a bit hectic and that’s ok. The way reduce overwhelm is to come back into the present moment. If you’re into list making write everything down. Everything that’s going on and everything you need to do. This is a great way to get it all out of your head. Choose one thing that you going to work on and do that thing. Be in the moment with it and leave the others until it’s their turn. When you are finished, cross that baby off and move on to the next thing. P.s It’s also ok to abandon the list for a little while and go do something nice for yourself. That way when you come back to it you feel happier and it’s easier to get things done.
Jessie Hays is a passion-fuelled Kinesiologist & Coach to women who want to rediscover balance & harmony in their body, mind & soul. Her mission is help women release imbalances, stress, fears & blocks so they can live a life that feels aligned and in a body and mind that is thriving. Jessie believes the key to living a happy life is all about connecting with, healing, embracing and loving your true self, to shine from the inside out.
To get to know Jessie or book in a session with her go to vivacityhealthwellness.com, or find her on Facebook /vivacityhealthwellness, Instagram @vivacityhealthwellness and Twitter /vivacityhw
