Self-care is all about promoting health and balance in daily life. It’s about choosing that which benefits ourselves. Many people still think it’s about pedicures and sleeping until noon, but even less pleasant acts like creating a weekly budget are forms of self-care.
The most loving, important acts of self-care will vary from person to person. So why might we avoid blocking out time for these activities? Here are five excuses we make which prevent us from doing what’s best for us.
- I do not have time for this.
Claiming there’s no time for self-care often means you need to take a more objective look at your to-do list. For each task, ask yourself this: Do you absolutely have to do this, or are you choosing to do it? Moreover, are you choosing to do it for someone else’s benefit? Whose disappointment are you avoiding?
If you want the benefits of self-care, you must be willing to dedicate time to yourself. Even the busiest people dedicate time to their own needs - they have a yoga practice, network for their careers, do their own laundry, and more. All of that is self-care.
- I am the type of person who cares for others.
At some point, we have met (or have been) that person who derives feelings of self-worth and happiness primarily from helping others. Some people take this a few steps further, certain that being a good person involves meeting someone else’s needs first.
Putting all of your time, love, and energy into other people will never make you a healthy, balanced, fulfilled person. It also does not make you “better” than those who do prioritize self-care.
- I should not have to take care of myself.
It’s common for many who put others first to feel as though someone else should be doing the same for them. They think they’ll automatically get back what they give.
Do not leave your potential for happiness, good health, or comfort in anyone else’s hands. At some point, you’ll be experiencing resentment and disappointment instead of the great things self-care can give you.
- I think it’s selfish.
On the contrary, when people get self-care right, they can become the most selfless people we know. Engaging in self-care is energizing, because when we do choose to give our time to others, we’re doing so consciously. This leads to more deliberate, genuinely kind acts.
Not to mention, who watches you? Who looks up to you? When you lead by example, valuing and improving yourself, you’re a more positive influence on those around you. That is not selfish.
- I want to be the caretaker.
In some situations, we don’t demonstrate or encourage self-care because we’re secretly afraid that if the people we love start caring for themselves, they won’t need us anymore. This is all too common with parents who dread a child’s ever-growing independence.
While it may feel good to be needed, no one’s health is benefitting from this; it’s just temporary emotional payoff. The caretaker is always sacrificing, and the recipient is never growing. And this will become the model for future relationships.
How do you practice self-care? If you didn’t practice self-care, which areas of your life do you believe would suffer most? Share below!