Why is it important to put yourself first? Do you know how to prioritize self-care?
Take a deep breath and relax, don’t worry, self-care doesn’t have to be complicated. And even better, you can do it right at home. No expensive spa dates or vacations are required.
We all know how important it is to take care of ourselves. We’ve been told time and again that self-care is essential for our physical and mental health. And yet, despite all of this advice, so many of us still don’t find the time to care for ourselves.
We often put the needs of others before our own, or we allow work commitments to take precedence over our well-being. But what does it mean to prioritize self-care? And why is it so important?
In this post, we’ll explore the answers to these questions and offer some practical tips on how to prioritize self-care in your life.
What is Self-Care?
Self-care is any activity that we do deliberately to take care of our physical, mental, or emotional health. It’s anything that we do to recharge our batteries and keep ourselves feeling our best.
It’s different for everyone, but some examples include exercise, getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods, spending time with loved ones, taking breaks when we’re feeling overwhelmed, and doing something just for fun.
Self-care is not only accepted in our culture as an important part of a healthy and balanced life but it’s also known to help the health of our minds.
Research Says, You Need Self-Care
According to the World Health Organization, it’s important to learn how to prioritize self-care to help cope with stressors. Stress can hurt our physical and mental health, and it can lead to problems such as anxiety, depression, and burnout. Taking care of ourselves can help reduce stress and protect us from these negative effects that can impact so many areas of our lives.
When life gets busy, often the person who we least prioritize is ourselves. But listen to your body, and you’ll know the feeling. Stressful situations are made that much worse when we feel out of control and struggle to acknowledge our needs.
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Are you sighing a lot during the day? Do you wake up feeling tired? Are you noticing other signs that your body needs a break? If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to put yourself first and learn how to prioritize self-care.
Why the Need for Self-Care?
There are many good reasons to make self-care a priority. For example, it can help reduce stress and protect our mental and physical health. It can also improve our mood, increase our energy levels, improve our focus and concentration, and even help us to be more productive.
Additionally, self-care can help us to build healthier relationships, as it allows us to be more present and attentive when we’re with others. You deserve to do that for yourself. This is especially important if you find yourself zoning out scrolling on social media, instead of being present with your friends and family.
You Need to Know Your Limits
I’m guilty of this sometimes myself. As a busy person with a strong work ethic, I tend to overestimate what I can do at times. I like to help people when I can, and when someone asks me to do something I will do what I can to make it happen.
After a stressful day at work, it can be a lot to take extra time to do a favor for someone else. I’m a generous person, but I can see and feel the signs in my body when I’ve reached my limit.
I’m sure you can relate. The bottom line is that self-care is essential for our overall well-being. When we feel good, we’re able to show up in the world as our best selves.
We’re more patient, more loving, and more likely to achieve our goals. We have the energy and feel that we can be fully present in our lives to make the most of the moments that matter.
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Health Effects of Not Prioritizing Yourself
Most of us don’t require coaching to know that self-care is an important part of a well-balanced life. But did you know that prioritizing self-care is quite important for the mind and the body?
Mental health and physical health are interconnected. If you spend too much time at work, it’s going to make you feel tired and perhaps even resentful. It can interfere with your ability to sleep. Another sign? For those with tinnitus, the effects can create a vicious cycle. Don’t let it get to that point.
You Decide What Prioritizing You Looks Like
Try simply taking some time to sit and think about what you need. Do you need to slow down, take a break, sleep in this weekend, and eat more nourishing food?
This can include things like getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods, exercising, and taking time for yourself to relax and de-stress. Taking care of yourself is important, as it can help you better cope with stressors in your life. When you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed out, implementing some self-care practices can help you feel more balanced and relaxed.
Self-care is any activity that we do deliberately to take care of our physical, mental, or emotional health. Although it’s often thought of as something that we do for ourselves, self-care can be something that we do for others as well.
For example, spending time with loved ones, exercising, or giving back to the community are all forms of self-care. You choose!
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What Does it Mean to Prioritize Self-Care?
Imagine a world where we all wake up with vitality and energy to accomplish our goals. That is the power of self-care. This is why we need to know how to prioritize self-care. We all deserve to live our fullest, best lives.
When was the last time that you made a point to look after your needs and things that matter to you? Spending this time is putting yourself first, and that is not a selfish choice. On the contrary, there are innumerable benefits to investing in your health and well-being.
Think about it this way: when you feel drained, can you enjoy spending time with your friends, parents, or taking care of your kids? When you are run down, can you focus at work or school? When your cup is empty, it is difficult – if not impossible – to give to others from a place of fullness. You need to take care of yourself first before you can take care of others.
Self-care is important because it helps us to cope with stress, avoid burnout, and maintain our mental and physical health. When we make self-care a priority, we are more likely to feel balanced and relaxed. We may also find that we have more energy, focus, and productivity. Additionally, self-care can help us to build better relationships (and not just with ourselves).
Why it is Important to Prioritize Yourself
There are many reasons why prioritizing self-care is so important. For one, when we make caring for ourselves a priority, we’re more likely to stay healthy both physically and mentally. We’re also better able to cope with stress, and we’re more likely to have positive relationships with others.
This type of care can improve our productivity at work and help us reach our goals. There is more to life than work, and it’s possible to look after your own needs even during the workday. For example, take your lunch break, enjoy your morning coffee, or make some time for quiet time. You have your dreams, and it’s important to look after yourself to accomplish those and be your best self.
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Finally, when we know how to prioritize self-care, we model healthy behavior for those around us. Treat yourself with the same care as you would a good friend. Making this investment in yourself will help you feel less stressed, have more energy, and achieve more.
How to Prioritize Self-Care?
Making self-care a priority can sometimes be easier said than done. However, there are a few simple steps that you can take to make sure that you’re taking care of yourself:
#1. Set Realistic Goals
When it comes to self-care, it’s essential to set realistic goals. This means that you shouldn’t try to do too much at once. Start small and gradually add more self-care activities into your life as you have time and energy for them.
There are so many self-care goals you can set for yourself. Choose something, no matter how small that feels like you and what you need at that moment.
#2. Schedule Time for Self-Care
One of the best ways to make sure that you’re prioritizing self-care is to schedule time for it in your week. Just like you would schedule a meeting or doctor’s appointment, add self-care to your weekly planner.
Make it nonnegotiable—just like any other appointment that you have! That’s how to prioritize self-care.
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#3. Choose Activities That You Enjoy
When you’re choosing self-care activities, make sure to choose things that you enjoy doing! This will make it more likely that you’ll stick with your routine and make it a habit.
Some ideas include reading, doing face masks, going for walks or runs outside, taking baths, painting or drawing, listening to music, meditating, and journaling—the possibilities are endless!
#4. Start Small
If you’re new and not sure how to prioritize self-care, start small! Don’t try to overhaul your entire routine overnight. Instead, focus on adding one or two new activities into your life each week. As you get more comfortable, you can add more activities to your routine.
This is the perfect way how to prioritize self-care. You can also start with self-care in the home, it doesn’t have to be anything extravagant to be healthy for your self-care routine. How about taking some time to pamper yourself at home tonight?
#5. Make it a Priority
Finally, once you’ve started incorporating self-care into your life, make sure that you’re making it a priority. This means setting boundaries with others — telling them no if they want something from you that would interfere with your scheduled time for self-care.
It also means not beating yourself up if you miss a day or two here and there — remember, even imperfect habits can lead to positive results!
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What Does Prioritizing Yourself Look Like?
It might seem like one more thing on your to-do list, but if you spend enough time on yourself, the rest of your life will benefit. This is how to prioritize self-care. You’ll begin to notice these benefits in your personal life as well.
It’s ok to allow yourself the space you need to care for yourself. Discover your true potential and spend the time that can make a real difference in your life.
#1. Improved physical well-being:
When you prioritize self-care, you’re more likely to take better care of your physical health. This means eating better, exercising more, and getting regular checkups.
#2. Improved mental well-being:
Self-care can also improve your mental health. When you make time for yourself, you’re able to relax and de-stress. This can lead to improved sleep, increased productivity, and reduced anxiety and depression.
#3. Improved relationships:
When you’re taking care of yourself, you’re also able to be a better friend, partner, and family member. You have more energy and patience for the people in your life when you’re not running on empty.
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#4. Improved work performance:
When you feel good, you’re also able to do your best work. Prioritizing self-care can lead to increased productivity, creativity, and overall job satisfaction. Taking care of yourself allows you to take care of your career.
#5. Improved quality of life:
When you make self-care a priority, you also improve your overall quality of life. You’ll feel happier and more fulfilled when you’re taking care of yourself.
Self-care isn’t selfish—it’s necessary! Make sure that you’re prioritizing self-care in your life so that you can reap all of the benefits. Your health, relationships, work, and overall
- Your health will improve. When you make time to exercise, eat right and get enough sleep, your body will thank you. You’ll have more energy to do the things you love and fewer sick days overall.
- You’ll be more productive. When you feel good, it shows in your work. You’ll be able to focus more and get things done quicker.
- Your relationships will improve. When you’re taking care of yourself, you’re able to show up more fully for the people you love. You’ll have more patience and be a better listener.
- You’ll feel happier. When you take the time to do things that make you happy, you’re overall much happier and at ease.
Start Prioritizing Self-Care Today
Self-care is any activity that we do deliberately to take care of our physical, mental, or emotional health. It’s important to prioritize self-care because doing so can lead to better mental and physical health, as well as stronger relationships, increased productivity, and more.
Printable Self-Love Quotes
Need a daily reminder that self-care is important? Take what you learned in this blog post with you. Get your 10 FREE printable self-love quotes, that are the perfect reminder that you deserve some me time.
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Sign up below for your 10 FREE Self-Love & Care Quotes + We hope you enjoyed this post on how to prioritize self-care. Incorporate spending some extra time caring for yourself. Start by scheduling time for it in your week, choosing activities that you enjoy, starting small, and making it a priority.
Remember: even imperfect habits can lead the way to better wellness!
Do you need to put yourself first? Wondering how to prioritize self-care, even if you're too busy? Click here for how to take care of yourself by @amy_sarow. #SelfCare #Wellness #MentalHealth #Relaxation #LoveYourself
How will you prioritize self-care?
More About Guest Contributor
Dr. Amy Sarow obtained her Doctor of Audiology at the University of Iowa. She spent her 4th year residency at the Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences in Jacksonville, Florida. Amy Sarow is also a Forbes Health Advisory Board member who reviews and consults on Forbes Health articles.
Last Updated on July 21, 2024
