Benefits of Self-Care
Developing a self-care practice is a lot like building a muscle. It is not a one-time event but takes consistent energy and time but is totally worth it as you operate as being your best self.
Self-care benefits our overall well-being. Articles and blogs by Taylor Yanulevich of Mindful Parenting and La Belle Society encourages women to make time for self-care and identifies many of the benefits of self-care.
Increases self-awareness
It is important to be reflective and have awareness of your own values, experiences, thoughts, and emotions so you are better equipped to relate to others. Identify and own your feelings because they are a part of the human experience.
Creates a healthy relationship with yourself
Self-care provides an opportunity for self-acceptance of your cultural roots, trauma experiences and all the values that established your foundation. The ability to create a space to forgive yourself of past mistakes and to laugh at your habits and peculiarities paves the way to being true to yourself. In addition, it is also important to do self-talk to our inner and unconscious thoughts and squash the negative thoughts about self.
Improves interpersonal relationships
When you have accepted yourself for who you are, it is much easier to accept others without judgement of their habits, cultural norms and imperfections that leads to honest relationships with others.
Develops a work-life balance
When you understand and value yourself it opens the pathway for healthy decision-making of balance of work, life and family. Work becomes doing what you love and seeing the interconnection with life and your culture.
Improves focus and concentration
Acceptance of self brings inner peace and contentment; it offers an opportunity for more restful nights of sleep resulting in being better focused and attentive to your daily tasks during waking hours. Give yourself permission to take a break, or not multitask. You are not being lazy.
Increases motivation
Being comfortable in your own skin means you can celebrate your heritage and plan and have the strength to tackle whatever obstacles may come your way. You realize you are not alone and have the strength and support of family and friends.
Reduces anxiety and stress
Stress is inevitable and can motivate in positive and/or negative ways. Self-care helps to isolate and identify the negative stressors and apply activities and behaviors to reduce stress and anxiety.
Boosts personal confidence, esteem, and contentment
Doing the things, you enjoy from cultural norms of honoring your traditions to looking good, maintaining personal hygiene, exercise, reading, watching your favorite sport, visualizing your favorite place or scene, gives a sense of peace and feelings of exhilaration.
Increases ability to control emotions
Honoring yourself through self-care and understanding your cultural heritage provides balance to your physical, spiritual, and psychological feelings.
Improves general health
Stress is a major cause of chronic illness such as hypertension, depression, digestive problems, autoimmune diseases, heart disease, and anxiety.