The Importance of Self-Care

Caring for oneself is very-important for the overall health of the body as well as the mind. Stemming from the actors’ beliefs, it denotes processes or actions that the actors consciously decide to perform as they embody structures of activity and practice that can be pursued routinely to support and optimise health. The modern world that we live in is highly developed and }}

@@start-page@@ busy, and people find themselves pinned to their working and other daily obligations. We run from one activity to another and our needs get the least consideration. But taking care of oneself can be costly, specifically, failure to maintain a healthy lifestyle sets back ones’ health and well-being in the future. That’s why people need to be very careful and make self-care part of their daily routine as much as possible. 

There are many great reasons to make self-care a priority:

Reduces Stress and Anxiety

If we follow good hygienic practices, diseases and other life’s challenges are easily handles by both the body and the mind. For instance, taking time out for other non stressful activities such as doing yoga, meditating or even taking some time to take deep breaths for few minutes in the day assist in conveying messages that prepares the body to relax. This in turn helps to minimize on the release of stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. After a while, constant practice builds up immunity against anxiety and chronic stress, which in turn manifest into health concerns such as heart disease, digestive issues, insomnia, depression among others.

Boosts Immunity  

According to research chronic stress undermines immune system competence which in turns makes the body prone to sicknesses and diseases. When the stress hormones, cortisol, and adrenaline are kept low, allowing the hypothalamus to pump the pituitary gland, immunity and immunology are aided by one’s self-care. Such behaviors as adequate rest, balanced diet, exercise, and leisure time all have a positive effect of charging up the body defense mechanism. If one takes a good care of him or herself, he or she will fall sick rarely and get well as early too.

Increases Resilience

Practicing self-care helps to build coping mechanisms or rather create a coping strain on which to draw when experiencing trying events or circumstances in life. For instance, supportive relationships, developing and use of ways of positive thinking, recreational activities, and spiritual care are the weapons that prepare us for destructive trauma, major loss or change. It’s better to spend time on oneself because during the bad time, people become more emotionally strong.

Promotes Respect 

Many a time people feel easily angered or irritable whenever their emotional tanks are empty. Ensuring we meet our needs by sleeping for instance, eating well and reducing stress or doing some relaxing fun makes us patient, compassionate and emotionally available to our loved ones. Due to this we have more energy to also expend in the various relationsh ips we have. Doing solitary devotional things like writing in a personal diary or prayer fosters self-awareness so that we also can bear with other people. 

Helps to boost self-esteem and CONFIDENCE  

If we continue to take care and invest time in ourselves then we also teach our sub-conscious mind that it is worth it to. I found that engaging in self-care practice repeatedly gives us constant reminders that our lives matter. Hence, as our self-esteem increases, the resulting self-confidence to seek out goals, address certain tasks or initiate change, does as well. Another advantage of being able to rely on oneself also eliminates depended thinking and expectations in relationships. Higher self efficacy then encourages us to keep on enhancing investment in our wellbeing in the future.

Promotes Overall Wellness  

Routine exercise and mental development work the basis for healthy living a lifetime. Observe that self-care even as a process of recognition helps enable the cultivating of wisdom because the self has learnt to listen. Over a period of time and gradually, we are better placed to understand our mental, emotional and our body’s condition. We understand why certain things give us a balanced health and why other things disrupt the balance. It can enable one to recognize diseases in close relationships and then decide on healthier alternatives for produce health and positive energy. Being in good health significantly cuts the probability of diseases and makes life better.  

But here self-care means self-directed behaviours and it cannot be equal to selfishness because it is done voluntarily. However, when we make it point to take good care of ourselves constantly we are able to give out our energy, and strength to also care for others. When planes are taking flight, the hostesses always advise the parents to put on the oxygen masks before the little children. This makes the parents to stay awake and alive at all times. Likewise, the focus on the ‘self’ prepares us for being in a better position to address the needs of our families, society and world in general. It helps us bring our best selves to the giving and does not leave us as depleted recipients. Self-care keeps us in our best shape as individuals; on all aspects that is.