The Importance of Self Care
Taking the time to care for yourself and meet your needs is SELF HONORING, and is NEVER selfish. For various reasons many of us struggle to find the time to provide ourselves with self-care. Often we put the needs of others before our own, this is especially true if you are a parent or in a care-giving role. However, even as care-givers and/or parents it is essential that we find a little bit of time for ourselves everyday to acknowledge our needs and to take care of ourself!
WHY do we need self-care? Because you cannot give from a place of depletion!
Airplane Analogy- Whose mask do you put on first?
- The Answer is YOURS
- If you are on an air plane along with your entire family and the oxygen masks drop down because of change in cabin pressure, you MUST put your mask on first!!!
- WHY? Because if you try to help others before putting your mask on you will pass-out from a lack of oxygen; thus, if you want to be conscious and able to help the rest of your family for the remainder of the flight YOU MUST PUT ON YOUR MASK FIRST!!!
Thus if we want to be the best parent, care-giver, or the best version of ourselves, WE MUST take care of ourselves and make time to meet some of our own needs!
Benefits of Self-Care:
- Enhances your ability to cope with life's challenges and opportunities, or life's up's and downs.
- Self-care is the foundation of creating BALANCE in your life.
- Creates a feeling of being acknowledged, cared-for, comforted, and nurtured.
- Enhances self-compassion and self-empathy, which facilitates health and wellness.
- "Recharges" your "batteries" and enhances your ability to take care of yourself and others.
- Buffers against the harmful effects of stress
Practicing Self-Care:
Engage in personally meaningful tasks:
- Take time to engage in activities that bring you joy, fulfillment, and/or relaxation
- For example: art, music, playing a sport, bubble bath, singing, dancing, playing with a pet, cooking/baking, building something, gardening, getting a pedicure, having a massage, doing your hair, etc...
Healthy lifestyle choices:
- Healthy eating and drinking habits
- Avoid CATS: Caffeine, Alcohol, Tobacco, and Sugar
- Avoid the misuse of prescription drugs and/or avoid illegal drugs/substances, including marijuana
- Sleep Hygiene
- Exercise
- Good hygiene habits
- For example: showering, brushing your hair and teeth. This also includes going to your Family Physician, Dentist, and/or Optometrist for regular check-ups and appointments when needed.
- This also includes finding the time each day for a period of relaxation
Social Support:
- Having at least 1 person who you can open-up and talk to. Someone you feel safe with, trust, and with who you can be yourself around. Someone who listens, understands, and cares for you.
- Includes accessing your professional supports, such as a Doctor, Psychiatrist, Counsellor, Social Worker...
Self-care may be as simple as brushing your hair, taking a shower, painting your nails, or as complicated as taking an afternoon off to yourself, or joining a class you have always wanted to talk - Joanne Charron, Traumatic Stress Services, LHSC