The Roles of Women
Women in the 21st Century are amazing. I think it’s safe to say we don’t give ourselves enough credit for the phenomenal work we do on a day to day basis. We work, we raise families, we run businesses, we cook, clean & do laundry, we support, we lead. We are strong, kind, tender, and powerful. Our love for our families and friends runs deep and has a great many faces.
We take on such a lot of responsibility in our lives and aren’t we simply wonderful?!
While these roles are something we should be 100% proud of, what we don’t always realise is how much pressure this puts on us. Society suggests that we should be able to do it all, but this is not sustainable for us in the long term?
We need to realise how much, throughout this constant motion of pushing forwards and supporting and loving those around us, we often neglect ourselves. You can’t pour from an empty cup, right?
So how does this lack of self care impact us in the long term? What can we do to add even simple and basic self care routines into our day to day lives so that we can improve our mental wellbeing?
What is Self Care?
Self-care and self-love are essential components of a healthy and fulfilling life. They involve taking care of oneself physically, emotionally, and mentally.
Often women are told that simply taking a bubble bath or eating your favourite chocolate bar while watching your favourite movie is self care.
Don’t get me wrong, these are all lovely things to do and as part of a larger and more in depth self care routine, offer a great respite from the fast paced lives we lead. But as stand alone activities, it’s just not enough! The self care we need to start incorporating into our routine has to go SO much deeper than simply taking a bath.
Constantly giving, working, loving, and supporting without taking time for ourselves will eventually take its toll. Relationships can start to break down. Our mental health can begin to suffer. We can even lose all sense of who we are, looking back to a time when we were younger, and perhaps things were simpler, thinking “What happened to her?” This can be especially true for women who are entering the perimenopausal stage of their life.
But…all this can be avoided - we just need to begin a long, healthy and sustainable self care routine. But how do we start loving ourselves more, taking better care of ourselves, learning to fully appreciate the incredible person we are?
A Simple Guide to Self Care
In order to develop a grounded understanding of self-care, self-love, and self-development for ourselves, we need to turn our attention inwards, while making simple but effective changes to our daily routines, as well as incorporating nutrition, exercise, and practices into daily life. We need to start being selfish.
Here are some tips on how this can be achieved…
Develop a strong sense of self-awareness: To practise self-care and self-love, it is important to develop a strong sense of self-awareness. This involves being mindful of your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, and understanding how they impact your overall well-being. Take time to reflect on what makes you happy, what stresses you out, and what your goals and values are.
Practice self-compassion: Self-compassion involves treating yourself with kindness, understanding, and patience. When you make mistakes or face challenges, instead of being self-critical, practice self-compassion by being gentle with yourself and recognising that mistakes are a natural part of the learning process.
Prioritise self-development: Self-development involves taking steps to improve yourself and your life. This can involve setting goals, learning new skills, and seeking out new experiences. Prioritise self-development by making time for activities that challenge you, encourage growth, and promote learning.
Focus on nutrition: Good nutrition is an essential component of self-care. Make sure to fuel your body with healthy foods that nourish you from the inside out. Avoid processed foods and focus on whole, nutrient-dense foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
Incorporate exercise into your routine: Exercise is another important component of self-care and self-love. Regular physical activity can help reduce stress, improve mood, and boost overall health and well-being. Find an activity that you enjoy and make it a regular part of your routine. Even if it’s just 3 times a week, take the time to get those endorphins flowing through your system!
Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness involves being present in the moment and paying attention to your thoughts, feelings, and surroundings. Practising mindfulness can help reduce stress, improve mood, and promote overall well-being. Find a mindfulness practice that works for you, such as meditation, yoga, or simply taking a few deep breaths throughout the day.
Prioritise rest and relaxation: Rest and relaxation are essential components of self-care. Once you have incorporated the above facets of self care THEN it’s time to make time to include activities that help you relax and unwind, such as reading, or spending time in nature - even taking a bath!
These as stand alone activities do not count as a well rounded self care routine but, in fact, work in perfect harmony with mindfulness, self compassion, self awareness, setting new achievable goals etc. And don’t forget throughout all this, to make sure to prioritise getting enough sleep!
Do you need help with starting a self care routine?
Remember, self-care and self-love are not one-time events, but rather ongoing practices that require consistent effort and attention. By prioritising these practices in your daily routine, you can improve your overall well-being and live a more fulfilling life.
But if you’ve lived a life that hasn’t really involved much self care until now, you may need a little help or a guiding voice to help you make your way down a path that eventually leads to a solid self care routine.
Please do get in touch with me if this is you! I work with a great number of women (and men) who just need a helping hand to get started with their self care.
I am here to listen to you, to help you work through the blocks that might be holding you back from really taking the time to focus on showing yourself the self care you deserve. Please do get in touch, I would be so happy to help you.
