written by Elizabeth Olujimi
I’ve got a two-year-old and when I reflect back on what life was like when I gave birth, it helped me understand the real need for self-care. There were days I felt like I was running on empty, but I still had to learn to balance the hats I was wearing and still look after myself and be present for my baby.
There are some seasons we go through in life where we must adjust and find a balance daily.
The Past Year
Over the past year, we have all experienced the effects of the pandemic and it affected us in different ways. There were changes forced on us that we had to navigate through and in the process try not to lose ourselves.
For some of us, our homes became our offices, and we did not know when to switch off or we could not work. We had to find a way of passing the time or take on new roles and that presented its’ own challenges. The pandemic affected us on different levels. If self-care is not something you were conscious of, you would be doing more harm than good to yourself.
Self-care is not something that somebody can do for you; it’s about you taking care of yourself. However, this can often be misinterpreted as you are being selfish. Self-care is about your wellbeing and when you don’t take care of yourself you cannot give your best to the things that are a priority. This can also start to affect the decisions you are making, and you gradually find yourself in a place you detest. A lack of self-care can also affect your motivation and your level of productivity.
Reflect on Your Experiences
As you read this, look around and think of an item or even a person that is of value to you. What do you do to show that it is of value? If it’s an item, do you treat it like anything else you own? Or if it is a person in your life, do they get special treatment? You are a person of value, no matter what anyone has said in the past or the situations you have been through in life. By making self-care a priority, you are saying “I value me, I value my wellbeing”.
Sometimes we find ourselves overwhelmed, constantly on the go or overly giving ourselves to people and things. We fear saying no or hurting someone’s feelings. One of the best ways to practice self-care is by putting the right boundaries in place so that you are not over-committing, and you are focusing on what is important.
You might be asking yourself what do I need to say no to or am I over-committed in certain areas? A good place to start is by determining what your values and priorities are. In other words, what is important to you at this stage in your life? We are all different so our values and priorities will be different and sometimes they might be affected by the seasons we are in.
Make the Time
We all get 24 hours in the day but some of us find ourselves more stressed out or tired than those around us. This is because of the things we are involved in. It seems like everything around you wants a piece of your time. Sometimes we even say, “I wish there were more hours in the day.”
The key is in how we spend our time, that is what makes the difference. If you find yourself in a place where you are not having time for the people and things that are important, it is a good place to rest, relax and reflect. Rest by taking a break from your normal routine – relax yourself, your mind and your body.
Reflect on what is working and what is not in relation to the things that are a priority to you. When you have done that, act in a way that says, “I value me, and I value my wellbeing”.
Self-care is a win in every way because it shows that you value yourself. It ensures that you can be fully present with the people and things that are important to you.
About The Blogger
My blog is about mindset, pursuing your dreams, personal development, wellbeing, believing in yourself etc. The aim of the blog is to inspire and motivate women to think differently and start thriving in life.
Elizabeth Olujimi – The Thriving Coach is the CEO of Dare To Believe Coaching Ltd which exists to help women in their journey of self-discovery, confidence building, personal growth and achieving their goals and dreams so that they can thrive in life. Elizabeth is also a wife, mother, pastor, mentor, published author for a women’s magazine and a Coach speaker and trainer with the John Maxwell Team.
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