It’s a busy time, and you’ve got a lot to worry about. It’s no wonder so many women are struggling to find a few moments each day to address their own well-being. Children, partners, pets, parents, friends, and careers all seem to come first. But even if you have an hour or so in the evening, doesn’t taking care of yourself feel a bit selfish? It shouldn’t do, but many women, especially moms, feel a little guilty prioritizing themselves.
I say there’s no reason to feel guilty about it – and here’s why.
Here’s why you taking care of yourself matters
Why self-indulge? Your health and well-being are essential to others as much as it is for yourself. If you’re unwell, you can’t focus your strength and energy on family or work. You have to take time out to rest and get well again. But if you’re regularly taking the time to focus on your health, you’re actively reducing your risk of becoming ill in the first place.
What is the alternative? If you keep working and working instead of addressing any health issues, you could be making matters worse. Stress and anxiety can lead to depression. You might be tempted to self-medicate so you can keep pushing on. But when you’re dealing with things like depression issues, there can be serious consequences.
It’s always best to stop and take stock of what’s happening, rather than push yourself too hard. Speak to your doctor and take that step back.
When a day off work is what you need
Taking a day off for your health is really important sometimes. This is true for physical, mental, and emotional health issues. Many employers would prefer that you give yourself a chance to address things rather than risk making them worse.
Then, hopefully, you come back to the workplace well-rested, more focused, and back to your usual productivity levels. But, is all of that achievable in only one day?
When taking care of yourself requires more than one day
Ideally, you should be spending time taking care of yourself and your health every day to avoid needing a day off.
What activity you choose to do is up to you. Great examples are:
- An exercise class
- A swim
- An afternoon at the spa
Social engagements are good for your health too, like a coffee with friends or a long lunch with family. Perhaps you get a massage on a Thursday afternoon and go to a yoga session Monday mornings.
All of these things count. Try to fit them into your regular schedule.
Other considerations for personal well-being
Don’t forget – your diet counts too. Something as simple as indulging in a healthy salad is time spent taking care of you. Little things can add up to quite a lot of time, but there is no need to specify or block out a specific number of hours or minutes.
Of course, it’s also important to get more sleep and count your steps too. This infographic from Dumbbells Review explains the importance of good sleep:
How much time is necessary for taking care of yourself?
Perhaps the answer to the question of how much time to spend on your well-being is “enough.”
Spend as long as it takes to feel that you are well all the time. Adjustments to your lifestyle may mean that every hour of the day focuses on your well-being. Walking your kids to school is beneficial to you both in several ways. Choosing a healthy meal spent with friends is good for you too. Can you find more time for you?
Sometimes your body refuses to rest when you need to (i.e. thoughts running amok with todo lists) What do you do then?
love your blog. this is something i must do as a man also. having depression i must take care of myself first everyday.
Excellent reflections!
This article again is so motivating, I want to go for a swim, start with a healthy diet and love myself more, i have to fight with this depression phase
Thanks Christy youre a star xoxo
I hope you continue to practice self love and enjoy life, Sweta, and I’ll be cheering you on!!
Cheers Christy ❤ xxx
Sending <3 xx
Such a great Post. I love your articles. It reflects many thoughts.
“If you’re unwell, you can’t focus your strength and energy on family or work.” Exactly. I always hear this paired with, “That’s why flight attendants tell you to put your own oxygen mask on first in the event of an emergency.”
Christy, I couldn’t agree more. Saving space for me keeps me going.
Sending you a big hug xx
Award nomination
This is such a great post that I have pinned and reblogged – thanks so much for stopping by my blog because that sent me to yours! Claire x
As long as it takes… Can we add more hours to the day? ;)
Hehe ;) I fear if we add those hours that I might just spend them all on WP ;) Sending virtual hugs, Teagan
Awesome post.
Hey Christy
I nominated you for blue sky tag and liebster Award, please accept.
Aquib . Check my post.
Summer is the best time to make proactive changes, since
we get more sunlight & have more hours, this is the perfect
time to start light exercise, bike riding, walking etc. Also
eating more fruits & vegetables. Once the fall & holiday
season start up (Thanksgiving – December) People usually
stop exercising, attending holiday parties, & over indulging.
By January it is “New Years Resolutions” mostly from guilt,
when instead one should be proactive NOW, & start taking
steps, it doesn’t have to be all at once. Once winter arrives
being conscious to not fall back into comfortable patterns.
This prevents the annual yo-yo that most people feel, which
can bring on depression, guilt, & all sorts of other side effects.
Being proactive now, helps achieve & maintain long term goals.
I agree, a time out is important for self care and self pamper. Everyone deserves self pampering. Nice post. :)
It’s funny how we often consider it selfish to think of ourselves first.. but only once we do that can we help others fully… Thank you Sadaf.
Well said. Welcome Christy.
everyone and I mean EVERYONE requires what I would refer to as ‘me’ time. Could also be referred to as ‘re-charge’ time, ‘cleansing’ time, ‘clearing’ one’s head time, ‘sorting’ one’s head time, ‘catch up’ time, ‘break’ time, ‘rest’ time, ‘do something else’ time, by any ‘time’ you, as a person in your own right, want to refer to it as, do as you want! :) Great post by the way (tongue in cheek, not BTW). :)
Great post Christy,
with small steps we can make big changes in life. If you just change the way of cooking, or if we start using dietary products like law fat milk, fish, white meat, our life can be changed for good.
Thank you
Diet + mental health = contentment. Thanks Ben :)
Oh and by “diet” I mean healthy eating NOT calorie restriction ;)
I think that after decades of working, learning and cleaning, our organisms cry help and for rest. Adult gap year can be a solution to prevent long-lasting and serious health damages.
https://youtu.be/HXr-X_1cxcQ
Taking care of self is important, well written. I always take a cat nap while putting my kid to bed
That’s a great way to make the most of your time :)
Definitely in sync, my friend!! We can give and give of ourselves but we have to make sure we are giving to ourselves too. You Rock!!!
Seeeeeee I told you we were on the same wavelength :) Hugs Syl!
Too cool! Hugs in return 🙂
This is great health advice! Thank you!😃
Thank YOU for taking time :)
You should spend all the time until your being is well – and then you continue putting in time so it stays that way.
Maintenance :)
Definitely something I needed to see. Thank you for the advice.
Glad to hear it’s helpful for you xx
Self care is important and something I am learning to do. I spend a lot of time at least I think I do of pleasing others that I forget about me. Also depression is something you don’t mess around with you gotta get treated for it.
Take care Tony and enjoy a restful night for you :)
Excellent points, Christy… how does an afternoon nap sound? Of course, when you’re old and retired you can afford to take afternoon naps! Seriously, your advice is sound. As a teacher, I took a ‘mental health day’ a couple of times a year – just to recharge the batteries. If you don’t look after you, nobody else will…
Oh I have friends who swear by naps! I’d have to ask Madelyn ;) Let’s keep looking after ourselves, as your comment makes a lot of sense
Most days I’m up at 5am, so by 2pm I’m pretty tired.
Oh wow, I’m asleep when you wake up.. but up later than you I bet ;)
Good bet with a 3-hour time differential!
Love this!…. The best way to shake off stress for me is working out on a regular basis (daily)… I´d say that it makes me tired in a good positive way… Spa day sounds amazing (I tried it a few times with coupons) and yet I´ll still be needing to do physical activity. On a side note/anecdote: when I felt very anxious about an exam, years ago as a student I never missed my long walks: like 40 blocks total… I still don´t know how I made it through. But my grades were quite ramarkable, humbly speaking. When I look back at those times I think I was definitely crazy so as not to save some energy. Some people work better under pressure. LOL… have a lovely evening, Chris. <3
Let’s do a spa day together, Aqui! And we’ll go on bikes that go nowhere too… and we’ll… haha I have so many plans for us :) Let’s just say we’ll end up getting those 8 hours of sleep after gal time <3 Thanks for the great comment here and wishing you a nice night too! I appreciate the blog reads xx
Ha!… Sounds great hun. My pleasure to visit xx
Hugs for Friday (and beyond) :)
Wise advice my sage friend. Many of us know this but don’t practice it (like me sometimes). <3
I think we all have those days xx
<3
Yep/ You kin say that again sister xxxxxxx
:) :) xxxxxxxxx
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Love being your sis :) <3
This is a good health advice for everyone!