The Importance of Self Care
I recently attended a webinar given by Dr. John Delony, a leading voice on relationships and emotional wellness . The webinar was called The Importance of Self Care, which is a topic that we have heard about for a while. The target audience for the webinar was HR personnel or caretakers, but it contained information that I believe is useful for everyone.
Self-care is more than a trendy buzzword; it is a practice that grounds you and helps you be more intentional in your everyday life. Many people are confused about the concept of self-care, so I wanted to share some of the concepts that Dr. Deloney reinforced throughout the webinar.
Here are some ways that you can implement self-care into your everyday routine:
Invest in Relationships
Humans are naturally social creatures, and we are not meant to take life on by ourselves. We need relationships with others that can help us celebrate the good things in our lives, stand beside us in a crisis and just be our friend.
Disconnection from others has been off the charts in the past year. Many people have been coping with anxiety and depression as a result of loneliness. While disconnection can have drastic effects on our emotional well-being, it can also impact our physical well-being. In fact, the physiological effects of loneliness can sometimes be more severe than smoking.
Relationships require intentionality. In order to make meaningful connections, we have to reach out to others and take time to connect. Reach out to a friend this week for a Zoom call or a walk. Our emotional, social, and physical well-being are all connected. By nurturing the relationships in your life, you will be improving your holistic well-being.
Understand and Cope with Stress
When we carry other people’s trauma and stress, it affects our health and well-being. This is known as secondary trauma, and it’s no secret that we have all been doing this in the past year or so. We may be doing extra listening and empathizing with others during this time. This is a great way to improve your relationships with others, but it’s important to make sure you’re also listening to your own needs.
Find ways to decompress and “take stuff out of your backpack” so to speak. Be sure to devote time to your own needs. Some ways that l like to decompress are through Bible reading, prayer and regular exercise. You cannot pour from an empty cup, so make sure that you are taking the time to refill your energy reservoirs and cope with everyday stress.
Control Your Thoughts
We may not be able to keep thoughts from coming into our minds, but we can choose what to do with them. If you continue to focus on negative or anxiety-inducing thoughts, this will become a habit that reinforces negativity. This is what often happens to us and creates cognitive behaviors that ultimately damage our overall well-being.
I have also started journaling in a gratitude journal as part of my morning routine. Continue to choose joy, and a it will eventually become an automatic reaction to things you encounter each day.
Be Intentional with Your Choices
The choices that we make are the foundation for the people we become. What you choose to eat, do, or say can either create joy or foster negativity. It’s important that you observe your everyday choices to ensure that you aren’t reinforcing damaging behaviors.
Be intentional with your food, exercise, and media consumption, such as news and social media. Take some time to breathe deeply and ground yourself in the present. When you make choices that nourish your most authentic self, you will find that everyday life is more fulfilling and fun.
Self-care is about the choices we make when it comes to our relationships, thoughts, energy, and time. Follow some of our tips above, and you will begin to feel more energized and focused over time.
If you have any questions about how you can incorporate self-care into your daily life, feel free to reach out to Nancy or Dr. Dempsey. We look forward to hearing from you!