I am too stressed for self-care. It is a luxury for which I do not have time! Or so the argument goes. The answer to finding time for self-care may be learning to better manage your time. Time is about control. If you want to have time for what you want or need most, you must learn to control your time or it will control you. Not having time to practice self-care is not a time problem, it is a time management problem.
Cold, hard fact alert… If you do not find the time to practice self-care, you will have to find time for sick-care. No one gets away with it indefinitely. Not the family caregiver, parent, teacher, nurse, or 911 dispatcher, no one. Without self-care your stress builds and as it does your brain goes through a process called somatization where it translates your stress into physical symptoms. Chronic stress depletes your mental and physical stamina, leads to irritability, anxiety, exhaustion and depression. This is not an inclusive list as the physical reach of mental stress can have a serious impact on your health and wellbeing. Somatic symptoms of stress can be expressed in many ways including headaches, digestive problems, and insomnia. Over prolonged periods stress will lower your immune response and can increase your likelihood of developing a progressive chronic disease.
At Work Well Concepts we care about your wellbeing. In the interest of promoting the practice of self-care, we offer these time management tips. Do not be a victim of poor time management.
- Explore ways to ensure time to practice self-care is included in your schedule.
- Experiment with mini-goal setting to incorporate some version of self-care – as you define it – into your lifestyle.
- Prioritize and plan ahead. No one can do it all at exactly the same time.
- Set a schedule that allows for flexibility. Life happens. Build in time to proactively manage these added stressors.
- Stop chasing rabbits. Eliminate your time wasters including people who waste your time.
- Learn to say no.
- Embrace self-respect by ensuring time for self-care. Take deep calming breaths, eating to nourish, drinking to hydrate, sleeping to recover, stand instead of sit and take every opportunity to move your body.
- Working within the framework of the 3 Steps to Live Well program, we at Work Well Concepts can help you forge a better path to a happier, healthier life. We offer personalized wellness coaching and wellbeing solutions. We are here, to help you.
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