Are you Truly Taking Care of Yourself?
Are you Truly Taking Care of Yourself?
We hear it all the time now don’t we? Look after yourself. Practice self-care, keep your mind positive and put yourself first. It’s so easy to say, but it’s hard to put into practice at times.
Taking care of yourself is vital. We all know that or at least we should. As the saying goes “You can’t pour from an empty cup” and it’s true. In order to put our best self forward, we must take care of ourselves first.
Make yourself a priority
It’s ok to make yourself a priority. You deserve as much love and respect as you give to others so freely. It’s time to step up and take the first steps in taking care of yourself. I know, I know, it really is easier said than done.
I’m so good at giving other people this advice but when it comes to myself? I always forget. I’ll make sure everyone around me is happy, I’m always on the go making sure everyone has what they need, coffee for gran, snacks for little bear, making sure he’s drinking enough water, making sure he eats healthy, making sure my gran takes her meds and lots more. I don’t begrudge it at all, but I’ve noticed I’m a people pleaser for sure.
Taking my own advice
I am going to try and take my own advice from now on though. It will be hard, but I have to. I don’t get enough sleep, I don’t drink enough water, I sometimes don’t brush my hair because I’m so busy. I’ll tie it up and that’s that, I’m off.
I’ve come to really appreciate the art of self-care. In fact I wrote a blog post all about self-care and why it doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s full of easy ways to get some self-care in your daily routine. When I take care of myself, I find that I am a lot happier. I suspect I’m not alone in this either.
Although it’s easier said than done, taking care of yourself should fit into your life effortlessly. When we create a routine that caters to that, it’s like magic.
Balance
It’s all about balance I guess. Making time for life’s simple pleasures and also getting on with everyday life. Taking care of yourself shouldn’t have to be hard and I’ve found that when I see those nice messages across social media reminding me to prioritise myself, that it makes me a little happy and it reminds me to take time and do something I enjoy.
I love Instagram accounts like – @gmf.designs, @stacieswift, @thehappynewspaper, @mellow.doodles – because I get motivation and inspiration from them. Their content is amazing and I really suggest you take the time to check them out. It’s little things like their posts that always snap me back to reality and remind me that I need some care as well. As do you.
So this is your reminder to do something for yourself today.
Do something that you enjoy. Sit and read that book, take some photos, do your make up, have that doughnut! Just do something that makes you feel better because you deserve it. And I know it’s easy to say, but please remember that taking care of yourself is just as important as that to-do list of yours.
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I don’t think I can put into words quite how much I needed that reminder to drink more water! I’m absolutely terrible at it, and then I get headaches because I’m dehydrated, and yet I still seem to struggle to do it. Everything just feels so frantically busy at the moment, and I feel pretty overloaded.
I think I’m a lot like you in that I focus on how everyone else is doing and forget that I need to look after myself sometimes. Although I guess its easy to do!
Em x
I'm so glad that I could remind you 😉 its so simple yet so easy to forget lol. It really is so easy to do isnt it? I always forget about me.
Mmm donuts! I think you're right it's all about balance and checking in with yourself as often as you can, see if you can recognise when you need extra rest etc
Yep! Vert much agree. Thank you for commenting 🙂
I needed to hear this today, after a rubbish Monday! You're right, we all deserve those 5 minutes a day for ourselves 🙌🏻
Thank you so much for commenting 🙂 we really do need self care, and what better day than a monday 😉
Great reminder! As a mom, I'm usually worried about the kids, the house, even the dog. I look like a mess most of the time. I decided today would be an easy day with few tasks. My self care is usually some coffee and a good book. Thanks for a good read.
Thank you so much for commenting! I'm the same, always worrying about what little bear needs, it's easy to forget about your own needs when you're taking cafe of others.
I think that many people were wrongly taught that putting yourself first in selfish. But sometimes even doing little things for yourself can make all the difference. Great post, really enjoyed reading it.
I agree! Growing up we are told to be kind and think of others and very seldom taught to put our own needs first. Thank you so much for commenting 🙂
Love this piece! Looking after yourself is as good a thing to do as looking after someone else is. For people who furiously diet and exercise, eating a doughnut may be a dream they crave but turn into a nightmare. I strongly believe eating that doughnut (metaphorically or otherwise) is the greatest act of self-care one can do.
Thank you so much for commenting 🙂 I agree, it's the best form of self care, it's small acts that build up over time and help relax us
What a great post! I totally agree that sometimes life can feel too busy for self care, but self care can be something so quick and simple, but make a huge difference xx
Hannah
Thank you so much Hannah 🙂 self care is a huge spectrum, no matter if it's small of a full blown pamper day, any self care is important x
It's very aposite that I'm reading this post now. My self-care has gone out of the window of late and I definitely feel worse for that. It's all too easy to focus on everyone else, to our own detriment. Thank you for this reminder, Jordanne, and also about drinking water – I've not been doing this recently and my skin is paying for it 🙁 xxLisa
I know exactly how you feel hun! I've been lacking in the self care department lately. Thank you so much for commenting hun 🙂 x
Looking after yourself and sometimes when we get so busy it's the last thing we end up doing! But I always try to make sure I'm taking care of me because then I can be the best version of myself that way xx
Lauren
I know right? And that's when we need it most! Looking after ourselves is so important x
Self care can be so simple but we all forget about it the minute life gets busy when that's usually when we need it most. I find carrying a water bottle everywhere even in the house makes me drink more water!
Right? There are so many ways to practise self cafe yet we often get so caught up in life and forget to do those simple things x
I love how you catch yourself looking after everyone else and following up to make sure they practice self-care… then the penny drops! oh… yeah… that was me… not you! 😀
Thank you so much for commenting 🙂 really appreciated x
Jordanne I'm very similar to you, I'm always taking time to make sure everyone had everything they need that when it's time for me to take care of myself, I'm too worn out. I like this post because it's a healthy reminder that it's perfectly fine to put yourself first too. Sometimes you just gotta say 'no' and do what's best for you. Thanks for the reminder 😊
Natonya
It's easily done isn't it? Taking care of others and forgetting about ourselves. Thank you so much for commenting 🙂
Thank you for posting this as a reminder for us all to look after ourselves, just made myself a smoothie and am going to drink lots of water today! I will definitely give those accounts a follow too so thanks for the recommendation! Also love the photo at the start of this post, what a gorgeous print! Hope you are having a lovely day x
Thank you so much for commenting 🙂 I love smoothies, they always help me feel more energetic x
I can definitely relate to putting everyone else first and forgetting to take time for me but it's so important to look after yourself too! Even if it is just 5-10 minutes at the end of the day for something small, you 100% deserve it x
Sophie
Very easy done isn't it? I agree, even just 5 minutes helps to rejuvenate us. Thank you so much 🙂
I totally agree and relate to this entire post! I try and make time for myself everyday when I finish working, even if it is just five or ten minutes xKayleigh Zara 🌟
Thank you so much for commenting lovely 🙂 making time for yourself is very important x
Yes to all of this. Today I am taking a good 'look after yourself' day. I'm going to catch up on some blogging, and try to drink more water, and just take the day for myself.
Alicia x
Thank you for commenting 🙂 that's good to hear! Those days are the best x
I'm so engrossed with responsibilities and life errands that I definitely forget to genuinely care for my well-being. It's so easy to feel guilty for taking time for yourself. I guess the ease comes with practice and not being afraid to rest. Self-care is so damn important for well-being!
Laura
It can be so easy to fall into that slump can't it? I often have this problem but I am really trying to improve on that.
This is such an important post – it's way too easy to just constantly put everything else – other people, lists of jobs – first and then suddenly the day is over. I really hope you're still able to snatch that time for yourself and it helps. Great post.
Self care is so important! I try to make time everyday for myself. Lately i have been slacking but making more of an effort now.