Self-care isn't selfish, it's essential

Yesterday I had a client who told me that she felt guilty for having her nails done and having a reflexology treatment in the same day. Like she thought she was being selfish for taking time to take care of herself. Self-care isn’t selfish; it’s essential. Practicing self-care is good for your physical health, but it’s also important for your mental health and your sense of well-being. It’s easy to feel like you’re too busy to take time out for yourself – especially when you’re a parent.

Some warning signs that you’re not practicing good self-care include:

· Feeling tired

· Feeling overwhelmed

· Getting sick frequently

· Not having time to exercise

· Feeling like you everyone is counting on you to do everything

· Feeling like your calendar is always full and your to-do list is never getting any shorter

Often not taking time for self-care can be down to having too many obligations and not setting boundaries or never saying no to things. We tend to just take on more and more and try and push through these feelings of tiredness and being too busy for self-care. But eventually we all burn out and these warning signs can turn into more serious problems:

· Increased stress or anxiety

· Insomnia or other sleep problems

· Poor health and a reduced immune system

Self-care can help relieve stress and anxiety. It can lift your energy levels and make you more productive. And it can promote feelings of positivity which boost your self-confidence and self-esteem.

Self-care can come in SO many forms, but some easy everyday examples include:

· Getting outdoors in the fresh air

· Eating at least five portions of fruit and vegetables each day

· Drinking more water

· Going for a run or to an exercise class

· Meeting up with a good friend

· Taking time to read a book

· Having a bath and an early night

Other ways to commit to self-care include:

· Re-discovering an old hobby or finding a new interest

· Joining a club or a team with like-minded people

· Practicing yoga or meditation

· Joining a gym or setting a longer term fitness goal

· Having regular massages or beauty treatments

· Exploring holistic therapies such as Reflexology, Reiki and Acupuncture

How do you practice self-care? Let me know in the comments below.