Do you need more self-care? Here are the signs...

Self care is one of those buzzwords that you hear a lot but it's not always clear exactly what it means. Let me decode it a bit. It's basically the art of knowing when to spend some extra time taking care of yourself. Unfortunately, if you don't enjoy it then it won't work. This can make it really difficult to find a self care routine and stick to it.

When you're not spending enough time on self care, it becomes self neglect. For a lot of people, it isn’t always easy to realize that they are experiencing the negative effects of self neglect. It can happen very easily to anyone when they have life elements like children, financial issues, feelings of inadequacy, or physical problems. 

The time and energy that these various obstacles take to handle in our daily lives can leech the energy of even the most resilient people. Fortunately, the mind and body have a way of alerting you to the fact that there’s some kind of deficiency. Here are some signs and symptoms to keep an eye on.

You’re Irritable Often

Constantly feel like everyone is on your last nerve? Suddenly getting upset more easily than usual? When you’re in need of more self-care, it’s a lot easier to be upset or disgruntled. This is because the toll of going without what you need is beginning to weigh on you, and the resentment that you feel has begun to slowly carve itself into other areas in life.

Being mindful of what is actually bothering you will help you to focus on correcting the problem. This can be especially true of long-term romantic relationships.

You’re Late Often

The tendency to be late can be caused by two main things, which are: the need to squeeze too much into an unreasonably short time, or the need to procrastinate because you never feel as rested as you should. You're too tired to do it today, so you put it off till tomorrow. 

One example of this can be seen in the habit of waking up with less time to get ready and trying to complete projects that required more time to plan. If you are the kind of person who listens to the alarm more than once, then you could be doing serious damage to your restfulness because you are waking up every few minutes instead of sleeping without interruption.

You Have Panic Attacks

Stress can build up in the body and cause it to have strange symptoms. If unchecked they can manifest into more serious conditions over time. Panic attacks are sometimes the result of stress carried for long periods without relief or any sort of outlet.

You Struggle to Relax

How good at relaxing are you? If you have trouble relaxing, it could mean that you need to spend more time relaxing. I know that sounds backward but the more you try to relax, the more you will able to relax. It can also mean that you have a lot of open projects going on that don't seem to have an end. Try to designate a day where you take actual time to not have to do anything. Make it your time to sit without having to worry about completing anything.

What can self-care do for me?

Self-care is essential for both mental and physical wellness. It fosters a healthy lifestyle, which ensures that your body functions optimally. Self-care involves self-love, self-respect, self-awareness, and self-understanding. In other words, it involves doing what you feel is right for your health. 

Although self-care may be elusive, especially if you have a very busy schedule, it is important to note that prioritizing your needs is essential for your wellness. Here are a few simple steps to guide you on how to incorporate self-care into your busy schedule.

Healthy Eating

Healthy eating ensures that your body gets adequate nutrients to function at an optimal level. The nutrients reduce your vulnerability to diseases and infections by keeping your immune system strong. To ensure you eat healthy, it is important to plan your diet in a way that incorporates carbohydrates, vitamins, proteins, and other nutrients that are important for body processes.

Make healthy choices when possible. Any cholesterol surplus in the body is deposited as fats, which are harmful to your body. It is important to adopt a balanced diet to avoid too little or too much of a particular nutrient in your body. Lots of vegetables and lean meats are what you body prefers to use for fuel. Healthy eating also involves avoiding excessive alcohol and caffeine intake.

Healthy Sleep

Getting enough quality sleep should be an essential part of your daily schedule. Good sleep relieves stress and improves your cognitive ability by eliminating mental fatigue. Since every person is unique, it may be difficult to determine how much sleep you need each night. It's generally recommend that you should sleep 7 to 8 hours a night.

Symptoms of inadequate sleep include mood swings, sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, irritability, memory problems, and disrupted sleep cycle.

The benefits of Meditation

Meditation connects you with your inner self. It alleviates stress and gives your mind the ability to focus on useful things. Meditation also fosters self-awareness and self-compassion. When meditating, be sure to focus on the good things you have achieved in your life. This gives you encouragement that you can achieve better things.

Avoid thinking about past negative events because such events tend to cause stress and distract your focus on important aspects of your life. Some people use yoga poses during meditation which leads us to the next point.

Why you need Physical Exercise

Physical exercises should be done on a regular basis to help keep your circulatory system efficient. When the blood in your body flows optimally, nutrients and oxygen are properly transported throughout the body to keep you healthy. Exercise also boosts your cognitive ability by ensuring increased blood supply to the brain. Additionally, it keeps your body healthy by toning your muscles and burning fat deposits in your body.

This isn't to say that you need to start an entire fitness routine! A simple stroll through the neighborhood can get your blood pumping and your heartbeat up. Yoga can be done by everyone with poses ranging from easy and meditative (as mentioned above) or challenging to both your flexibility and strength.

Learning to think and act in a way that promotes self-care can go a long way towards keeping you healthy and stress free. I get it though, we don't all have time every single day to exercise, relax, eat right, sleep enough etc. Even if you can only take time 1 day a week for self-care, you're body will thank you and you'll start to fell better!

💖 I have a self-care Sunday guide available! This guide will help you to identify and establish a one day a week self care routine that will help you take back your health and stress level! You can get the guide by signing up for my newsletter right here. (Don't worry, you can unsubscribe any time you want to!)

~Lisa

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