Self-care is one of the foundations of wellness. Life can be stressful at times, and self-care is an essential tool to maintain balance and wellbeing while one navigates challenges. Self-care requires action, and can take many forms. It can take the form of exercise, such as riding a bike or going for a walk. Self-care can be spending time with friends, or going shopping (in moderation 😊). Self-care can also mean setting boundaries with work, such as remaining unavailable when on vacation. It can take the form of turning down social invitations or being selective about who one spends their time with.
A common issue my clients face when practicing self-care is feeling like they are being SELFISH. There is a clear difference between taking care of one’s needs first versus doing so with the conscious lack of consideration for others. In the work example, one might feel as if they are letting their co-workers down by being unavailable during vacation. In fact, they are taking care of their wellbeing, which includes preventing burnout, lowering stress and being able to do their job effectively. It is true that one’s co-workers may need to better problem-solve in your absence, and the company might not run as efficiently as it would with your presence. The key is you are taking essential steps to preserve your wellbeing in good faith, without the intention of disadvantaging others. One’s co-workers having to problem-solve is an unintended result, but one which should not override one’s responsibility to care for oneself.
Ask yourself if what you are doing is to better yourself, and whether not doing so is to your detriment. If you are even thinking about the effect on others and taking this into consideration, then you have established good faith and have removed the aspect of selfishness. Take action with this peace of mind, and bolster one of the pillars of healthy living.
