How much time do you spend a day being aware of others? And about you? Many times we worry so much about others that we forget that we too have a life to enjoy and take advantage of, however work, daily activities and routine make us lazy and we often forget to take time to enjoy the things that we do. They like them, there are even people who do not even remember the hobbies they had because they have been putting them aside so much that when they really have free time they no longer even know what to do with it, they have forgotten to take care of themselves . You feel identified? Then read on and discover how important it is to take care of yourself. After all, who is going to love us more than ourselves?
The importance of self-care
Some may think that taking care of oneself is for selfish people, but beware, concepts are being confused. It is not being selfish to want to be emotionally well, firstly because we are the only resource we have to live and also to contribute to improving what we have around us, so that we will not be able to help others if we are not well to begin with. When we are emotionally stable we will also be better for others.
1- Eat properly
How do you want your body to function well if you don’t eat the right way? Taking care of your body is providing it with healthy, nutritious food rich in essential minerals, vitamins and other nutrients. We must eat a balanced diet without overdoing it or falling short. To do this, we must make sure that we follow a balanced diet , incorporating all kinds of foods in their proper measure.
If we reduce the consumption of fried foods and processed foods and in turn increase the consumption of fresh foods, we will be incorporating healthy foods with fewer chemicals , less artificial. Our body will feel better over time. On the other hand, if you think you need to lose weight to regain health, incorporate more fruits, vegetables and proteins from lean meats.
2- Get some exercise
One way to love ourselves is to take care of our body, not only with proper nutrition but also by doing sports . Staying active prevents disease, improves our health, and strengthens our character and discipline. We will be incorporating a health habit that will also increase our psychological well-being . No need to kill yourself to exercise, walking quickly 4 or 5 times a week is a good way to start light exercise and is suitable for all ages. Being more active will also keep you more mentally active because mind and body are united, it will help you reduce the risk against dementias and work better cognitively.
3- Enjoy your free time
Set aside at least an hour every day to do an activity that you enjoy alone. It has to be an activity that you do by yourself, for example taking a relaxing bath, reading that book that you have half finished, recovering a lost hobby , etc. It may happen that if you have not done anything in your spare time for a long time you do not know where to start, if that is your case, think about the things that you liked to do and that you have not done for a long time: painting, playing an instrument, going out to walk, dance …
4- Put off worries
It is important that in those moments that are exclusive to you, you enjoy the present and that you do not think about the future or the past. Focus 100% on what you are doing and forget all the worries you have at that moment to avoid doing things automatically. “Carpe diem” means live in the present but not in the sense that everyone believes, it does not mean that you live life in a crazy way without thinking about tomorrow, but its original meaning was to focus on what you are doing right now to get the most out of it . And it is that when we find ourselves in a task and forget everything else, we are going to enjoy it more and get more juice from it.
5- Surround yourself with relevant people for you
It is a self-care in which we do not usually fall, we mean that you enjoy your time with those people who are really worth it and who bring something positive to your life. Do not waste time with those who only complain, lament, blame you or make you feel bad because in the end they will drag you into their spiral of negativity . Look for people who love you, value you, make you feel good and with whom you enjoy their company. Think about whether that person benefits you or hurts you, if he makes you feel loved or makes you feel belittled, if he contributes or subtracts you. Then decide.
6- Say “No” more often
Stand up to the requests of others that don’t interest you. Do not accept things out of compromise, express your opinion in a respectful and harmless way. The best self-care is to be honest with yourself and say what you really feel . If you are assertive no one will get hurt. If you find it difficult to say things or express your feelings, you should train yourself in assertiveness , the best (and fastest way) is by consulting a psychologist, although there are also self-help books that can be useful.
7- Do not think about the bad, learn and move on
Taking care of yourself is not just giving yourself whims or breaks, it is also demanding things from time to time , not letting yourself settle into routine and ease. If you really love yourself, you will also demand yourself in the right measure to advance in life and achieve your goals. Do not deceive yourself, or be continually lamenting about your failures , learn from them and that they serve to nurture and improve yourself. There are things that cannot be controlled and it is not good to be continuously thinking about it or feeling sorry for yourself, instead try to find realistic solutions and minimize damage, focus on what you CAN control. One of the most important self-care is knowing how to differentiate between those problems that you must surrender to because they are beyond your control and those that you can (and in fact should) face.
