Self-Care is Vitally Important

By Randi Morse

I have a number of friends who are workaholics. They want to get as much done as humanly possible and often sacrifice self-care in order to achieve their goals. A lot of people don't think that self-care is important. I've even been told that our grandparents didn't practice self-care so there is no reason for us to do it. Self-care isn't a reward, it's something that your body, and your mind, needs in order to keep you working at optimum capacity.

Not a Reward

I am just as guilty as others of not practicing self-care. For example, there have been many times when I was hungry for lunch but was working on an article. I would tell myself that I was not allowed to get lunch until that article was finished. In my mind, having something to look forward to would help me finish the article faster. In reality, trying to work while I was very hungry not only made it take longer to finish the article, but the article was nowhere near as good as it would have been if I was able to focus completely on writing it. Because I was so hungry after writing the article, I was much more prone to making bad food choices.

Not Wasting Time

It seems like everything in our world goes at lightning speed, and in order to keep up you need to move just as fast. That's why it can feel like you are wasting time, or slacking, whenever you take time to visit your friends or head to the gym. Self-care prevents burnout. We've all been to the point where we push ourselves so much that we give up. The easiest way to ensure that burnout doesn't happen is to practice self-care. By taking a little break away from everything, and doing something just for you, you are allowing your brain and body to go into a state of relaxation. This relaxation gives you the stamina and endurance you need to get through your work day and to deal with any stress that happens to come your way.

Don't think about self-care as a waste of time or something silly; instead, think of it as a way to boost your body up for the next round of stress that's sure to come your way. 

To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Tempe, Ariz.