In recent years, the wellbeing industry has grown exponentially, and you may have heard the term ‘self-care being used online and in the news. As we all can benefit from practicing self-care, this term’s popularity has become beneficial and a little problematic. While people are becoming more aware of the need for self-care, many are misunderstanding the concept.
Businesses and brands have convinced many people that self-care consists of spa days, bubble baths, and retail therapy, but genuine self-care is so much more than that. Unfortunately, this limited view of self-care has led to many people branding self-care as selfish. When in fact, self-care is essential.
Authentic self-care means taking care of yourself to be healthy and well, allowing you to do all the things you need to and want to achieve in a day. This, of course, differs widely from person to person. Meaning there is no one definition.
What are some examples of self-care?
- Keeping a healthy sleep routine
- Doing a hobby, you enjoy
- Taking walks in nature
- Dancing
- Laughter with friends
- Expressing gratitude
Alongside making time for activities you enjoy, self-care also takes the form of building resilience and proactively preventing burnout. This can take the form of setting boundaries, asking for help when needed, increasing self-awareness, or managing your time well. Building resilience helps you become more adaptive when life gets tough, ensuring you can continue to be your best self.
How to build resilience and avoid burnout
Develop a resilience toolkit
When stress strikes, we all have our go-to coping strategies. However, sometimes our chosen ways of coping may not be convenient or can cause more significant anxiety. For example, if your go-to stress buster is exercise, you could be a minor injury away from that no longer being an option. This is why it’s essential to have several go-to activities to help you relax and destress.
Recognize when your stress is hindering you
We’re often under pressure, and sometimes it can work to our benefit when we have a deadline, for example. But, if you find yourself having trouble focusing, losing your temper, or frequently drifting into a daydream, take a step back. Make yourself a drink, sit somewhere else, or go for a walk. Recognize when you need to take a break, and take it.
Learn who you can go to for help and how best to communicate with them
We all need help from time to time. While most of us are happy to lend a hand, we often don’t feel free to ask for it. Try and establish who in your life you can support and who can offer support to you. That way, when you feel in a pickle, it will be easier to reach out at that moment. When asking others for help, ensure you’re concise and specific, refrain from apologizing or making it seem too transactional, and always follow up with results and gratitude.
As always, I would love to hear your thoughts on this.
Be well, stay safe, and Dream BIG!