Sometimes we are all so busy with our lives, helping other people, but we don’t take the time to care for ourselves. It is so essential for us to take the time to do some self-care regardless of how busy our lives may be. Though self-care can have many manifestations, the good thing is that there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to self-care. Based on what matters to us, it can be as simple as having enough sleep, eating healthily, or exercising regularly. Some may argue that we should not worry about ourselves but focus more on others. If we don’t take the time to care for ourselves, we’ll find it more challenging to help others. Taking care of ourselves is not a selfish thing on our part because we do need to take the time to recharge and tap into our sources of inspiration, which is essential, incredibly, if our work is demanding. On top of that, we are also expected to take care of others.
For some of us who are in leadership positions, we want to give it that little extra to make sure we stay on top of things, and for that reason, self-care is even more critical for us in leadership positions. How I see it is that it does not matter how we define self-care if it involves being honest with ourselves and the people around us. Everyone needs to take control and prioritize self-care to ensure we are practicing self-care both in and outside the workplace. Again, it can be things like sleeping enough so we can be focused on our everyday tasks. It is about being involved in accepting everyone, even in times of challenges. Still, most importantly, self-care involves actively setting intentions and being honest with ourselves and others about the desires and dreams we want.
Too often, we forget to express gratitude. From experience, I know that gratitude fosters a sense of happiness, so I keep a gratitude journal. Every day I write at least two things I am grateful for. In times of stress, it becomes convenient as I take some time to reflect on the things, I am thankful for. If we don’t take the time to nurture ourselves, we are putting ourselves in danger of unhappiness, which can lower our self-esteem. Another thing, too, is that people who spend their time only taking care of others can be at risk of getting burned out, which makes it more challenging to care for others. When we take the time to care for ourselves, it is a way to remind us and others that our needs are just as important.
By: Narine Dat Sookram
