It’s so easy to stress yourself out or take on the stress of others if you aren’t careful. Sometimes, we care so much about others and their mental health that we forget to take note of our own mental state.
Unfortunately I’ve had to learn the hard way how to become all the more selfish with my time, and be sure that I’m taking care of myself first before another soul. Not taking care of our own bodies can lead to a long host of problems.
Have you ever felt overwhelmed or discouraged? Have you been so exhausted you didn’t know what to do with your life? If so, you could have been experiencing burnout. It’s a frustrating and horrible feeling, but there’s one simple thing that can be done to turn your burnout around. No longer do you have to go on with this exhaustion. All you have to do is practice a little bit of care to yourself.
Self-care is important. It doesn’t have to be a taboo thing, and everyone should practice it. How often have you wished you could do something for yourself? Self-care resolves this issue and you no longer have to deal with being hurt or upset. Plus, it can make you a more positive and happier person. You have to choose yourself before you choose others. I know it is difficult, but your soul will be so much happier and well-rested, making you a better person.
Why is Self Care so Important?
Your soul gets tired, and without the proper channels of care, you could end up sickening yourself due to stress and worry. Self-care is important because in your ability to take care of yourself you then learn how to protect yourself from all that isn’t for you. You also learn to protect yourself from all that doesn’t help you reach your goals, or hold on to that joy you know deep down you deserve.
Self-care is defined as anything that is done for self, being sure that one’s mental, psychological, emotional or physical state is taken care of.
For someone that may be working out on a daily and then feeling good about one’s self, and for someone else that could mean going to the spa once a month and turning the phone off while there.
To name a few more:
- Take a kickboxing class
- Brushing your teeth every day
- Bathing consistently
- Dance to your favorite song
- Engage in a social media fast
- Turn your phone off for a day (in a responsible manner of course)
- Say “No”
- Get adequate rest
- Watch your favorite show
- Laugh out loud
- Spend time with those who make you happy
Sometimes people call it selfish when you begin to engage in self-care, but it’s never selfish to begin taking better care of yourself even when it means they get less of you. At times self-care will mean spending time with others but that’s not always the case. You have the freedom to spend time with others as you choose to do so and when.
Better taking care of yourself will teach you how to better love yourself, and when you love yourself you can then love others around you even better. Self-care not only involves doing things that benefit you physically like exercise, but also mental such as taking that fast from social media to disengage for a while.
It can make you a better person
Self-care can really make you a better person. When you learn to focus on yourself and devote tire to you, you realize just how important other people in your life are as well. It may seem strange, but turning inward often enough can lead you to being happier and healthier.
Burnout happens when you commit to doing so much. You become overwhelmed and unsure how you will take all of these things on. Not only is it frustrating, but it can be very bad for you. Burnout increases stress in your body, and stress can cause weight gain, a weakened immune system, and even cause your spine to be out of alignment.
The last thing you want is to suffer through life because you are committing to the wrong people. You are the most important person in your life. If you don’t exist, all of your loved ones would suffer as well. That’s why it’s so important to focus on yourself.
Once you practice self-care, you realize that you become recharged and refreshed. It’s a wonderful feeling that makes you a better person.
Stop stressing before it burns you out
It’s important to know that taking on extra stress that doesn’t belong affects the mind, the body, the heart and the soul. All of those aspects of the body are important and meant to be maintained along with kept healthy.
Stress is something we get to have our hand on when it comes to our lives. There are ways to help manage some of the stressors of life we have no control over, but through it all we must understand that whatever it is can only stress us if we allow it.
It’s exhausting taking on the weight of the world and the weight of others’ lives when they could care less whether or not you showered that day. Take charge and don’t let that happen to you, don’t let the stress meant for others take you under and cause you to miss out on the life you were always meant to live.
So again I ask, are you willing to let go of whatever it is that’s holding you back, so that you can be set free? You’re totally worth it.
Today, choose to be different. Choose to practice love and care for yourself, and forget about the rest. You deserve love and belonging, and you can say goodbye to burnout. Be positive and be you, without the burnout.
Dr. Brent Wells, D.C. has been a chiropractor for over 20 years and has treated thousands of patients. He founded Better Health Chiropractic & Physical Rehab in Alaska in 1998 and is a member of the American Chiropractic Association and the American Academy of Spine Physicians.
Image courtesy of Hayley Powers.
