Growing up, we are all taught that caring for others is an important value to have. But the one who looks after everyone else usually tends to neglect their own welfare. It’s alright to be generous and pamper yourself with the following self-care suggestions.
- Your Physical Condition Affects All Other Areas of Your Life
Be it work or play, we all need sufficient rest and energy to fuel our busy schedules. Deadlines never seem to end when you’re working or studying so pressing pause and getting a good night’s sleep won’t affect your output much. The best part is that the following day, you can wake up refreshed and perform at your best level. If you have a desk job, remaining seated in the same posture all day can be detrimental to your body. Try taking eye breaks every hour and stretching in between or get an adjustable standing desk. Another aspect of physical care is proper nutrition. Even if you eat a balanced diet, chances are the minerals you get are insufficient. Consider consuming multivitamins or nutrient-specific supplements to boost your overall health and immunity. No matter how busy you get, remember not to skip meals and eat regularly.
- Improve Your Mental Focus
Do you panic every time you see your never ending to-do-list that seems to keep getting longer no matter how many tasks you clear? Does your mind go blank and zone out more often than usual? If the answer is yes to both questions, then you may be suffering from brain fog. To alleviate these symptoms, you can first take a step back from your overwhelming responsibilities. Take a breather and look at it with fresh eyes, refocus and prioritize your tasks in order of importance. If you prefer a more structured approach to train your mind, the Pomodoro Technique is a good option. This method works by having pre-set deadlines for work: 25 minutes at a time followed by a 5 minute break. Reward yourself when you complete each task and build a positive association to incentivize your productivity.
- Build Emotional Resilience
Part of self-care also involves reflecting on where you are in your life and whether what you are doing now contributes to your future goals. Only you know whether you are happy with your career or major. Instead of going with the flow, try and find out what your true passion is. As the Japanese concept of ikigai dictates, your life’s purpose lies at the intersection between your passion, aptitude, societal needs and economic value. Make time to think about this and steer yourself in the direction of happiness.
Being mindful of your body, mind and soul will enable you to have a healthy work-life balance in the long-term and achieve your personal and professional goals. Start treating yourself like the best friend you always had and reap the benefits!