We have all heard the “buzzwords” about taking care of ourselves and our mental health. People say we should “practice self-care, set boundaries, be more mindful.” What does it all mean?
To me, this simply means taking care of yourself. It sounds simple but many of us are terrible at taking care of ourselves. We are really good at taking care of those around us, kids, family members, and friends, but we put ourselves last and only if there is time.
As the old saying goes you “can’t pour from an empty cup.” It’s so very true! Have you ever come home from a long day at work and you are both physically and mentally exhausted? All you want to do is go to bed and go to sleep or curl up with a good book and tune out the world. Yes? Then you know that you have overextended yourself.
Sometimes we can’t help that. Often, we can. We need to “set boundaries” for ourselves. There are only so many hours in a day. If you are feeling overwhelmed more often than not, then it is time to step back and decide what you can and cannot do. We tend to expect more from ourselves than we do from others.
If you feel this way then you need to evaluate. We all have things we have to do, work, take care of children, etc. However, there are also things we take on. We agree to do volunteer work, we are on committees, helping neighbors. If you are feeling overwhelmed you need to decide what you can and can’t do to have a better balance and feel less stressed.
To put it in perspective for you I have a short example. One day not too long ago, a wise coworker asked me, “what are you going to do for yourself today?” Most people who know me well, know I am very rarely at a loss for words. However, she could have knocked me over. What was I doing for myself that day? It’s something I never thought of. So, I ask all of you…What are you going to do for yourself today?
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