Art of Life/Donna Parker
Take Care of Yourself First
“Taking care of yourself first, doesn’t mean me first, it means me too.” — Unknown
Learning to invest in yourself may be the most profitable investment you ever make. It yields not only future returns, but often a current pay-off as well. When you are working hard to achieve your goals, you can easily put your self-care needs aside. Deadlines dictate your to-do list; stress and fatigue start to accumulate because of long working hours; and you get lost in the vortex of screens and information overload. Putting your needs aside leads to a burnout, disconnection from yourself and your values, stress, anxiety and other mental illnesses that you may not notice until the wake-up calls start to appear.
Realize self-care is a necessity, not a luxury. Your self-care is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation.
Taking care of yourself is an indispensable part of unleashing your full potential, achieving peace of mind, living a joyful happy life, and creating a positive change within yourself and the world around you. Self-care is not something you step away from work for and then feel guilty for “wasting” the time to do so; it is how you are investing in yourself to become your most valuable asset. Make it part of your life.
Your future is in large part determined by your willingness and ability to invest in yourself now. The surest way to achieve a better quality life, and to be successful, productive, and satisfied is to place a priority on investing in both personal and professional growth. The effort you put into consistently investing in yourself plays a large role in determining the quality of your life now and in the future.
Consider this your gentle reminder that you are your number one priority. To show up for your career, family and community, you have to show up for yourself first. Maybe you cannot fully control the demands of everyday life, but you can prioritize self-care and put your well-being on your to-do list. Here are a few steps for guidance:
Talk about it. Give yourself permission to express your feelings and emotions. Talking about how you feel and sharing that something is not right does not make you weak, different or incapable of something — it is an essential part of creating a safe and supportive environment to live and work in. It is also a first step toward making self-care your priority. Reach out to loved ones, talk to your team, find a community, try therapy or seek medical professional help — do whatever feels right to you.
Expand your mind by learning new things and keeping your mind active, as this helps to grow and maintain your mental ability when you invest in yourself. Here are a few ideas: Read: Pick up a book, a newspaper, or a magazine to get started. Explore culture: Attend performances, listen to different styles of music, travel, or join an organization or group composed of people from different backgrounds. Keep your mind active: Play word games, board games that include strategy, or try using your brain to perform simple calculations rather than relying on a calculator.
When you decide to invest in yourself, also decide to care for your body. If you care for your body in the way that you might maintain an expensive car, it will perform marvelously and last for a very long time. Remember the following basics:
Give It High-Quality Fuel. Make healthy food choices as often as possible. What you eat does play a large role in your energy and ability to perform. Socializing is good fuel for your brain, so make sure to get together with good friends as often as possible.
Do Not Push It Too Hard. Rest and relax often, slow down, and do not overload your system. Also, do not shift gears too quickly; it causes stress and damage to your body.
Get Regular Maintenance. Go to the doctor, do not put it off until you totally break down. Better yet, use preventative maintenance; get check-ups, take appropriate vitamins, and pay attention to irregular or erratic behavior.
Polish the Exterior. Many people dismiss their appearance as frivolous and self-indulgent, but it is not as long as you do not go overboard. I am not talking about facelifts and Botox; rather about getting a fabulous haircut and wearing clothes that make you feel confident and attractive.
Investing in yourself truly makes a difference in your life, your well-being, and your ability to thrive and perform to the best of your ability. The extent to which you invest in yourself, mind and body, not only shapes the way you interact with the outside world, but it often reflects the opinion you have of yourself.
“Your future is in large part determined by your willingness and ability to invest in yourself now.” — Unknown
