Self Care: What is it and Why is it Important?
Self care is not just about a day at the spa, a bath, box of chocolates or a glass of wine…………
In this post we will explore the five key benefits of self-care, discuss why self-care is essential, and highlight the profound connection between self-care, self knowledge, self esteem and confidence. All of which is critical, especially for us ´midlifers´ (please help me think of a new term for!!)
As women in midlife, juggling various roles and responsibilities, it’s crucial to recognize the significance of self-care. Prioritizing self-care allows us to recharge, rejuvenate, and maintain a harmonious equilibrium. By investing in self-care, we replenish our energy reserves, enhance our overall health, and establish a solid foundation for fulfilling relationships and personal growth. It is through self-care that we find the strength, resilience, and vitality to navigate midlife challenges while nurturing our own needs.
Self-care is giving the world the best of you, instead of what’s left of you.
Katie Reed
Why is self care so important in midlife?
Self-care is particularly important in midlife, as this is a time when many people experience significant life changes and transitions. These may be additional stressors from work, family, caring, health, relationships, whatever. By taking the time to care for yourself, you can better manage the stress and uncertainty that can come with these changes. Similarly, self-care is important for mums, who often put the needs of their children and families before their own. By prioritizing self-care, mums can better manage the demands of motherhood and maintain their own sense of identity and well-being. From my experience, midlife can feel like a time where everything has changed and yet nothing has changed! In terms of how I feel about life and what I want and yet the world still seems to carry on as normal.
What has self-care got to do with confidence?
Self-care is closely linked to self-esteem and confidence. By taking the time to care for yourself, you are sending a message to yourself that you are worth investing in. This can help to boost your self-esteem and confidence, making you feel more capable and empowered in your daily life. Similarly, by engaging in self-care activities that you enjoy are passionate about and find fulfilling, you can better connect with your own values and sense of purpose, which can further enhance your confidence and self-esteem.
In turn confidence gained through self-care empowers us to set healthy boundaries, communicate our needs effectively, and make choices that align with our values. This not only benefits our own well-being but also serves as a positive role model for our children, teaching them the importance of self-care, self-respect, and self-confidence.
Self-care is how you take your power back.
– Lalah Delia
What are the 6 Benefits of Self-Care?
- Improved Physical Health: Engaging in self-care practices such as regular exercise, nutritious eating, and adequate rest supports physical well-being. Women experience increased energy levels, strengthened immune function, and reduced risk of chronic diseases, enabling them to manage their responsibilities with vitality. Shockingly 1 in 3 adults in the US do not get enough sleep . Not having enough sleep can have a crucial impact on our health and wellbeing alone.
- Enhanced Emotional Well-being: Self-care activities like journalling, meditation, creativity in all forms and pursuing our own hobbies and interests promote emotional well-being. These practices provide an outlet for self-reflection, stress reduction, and emotional release, cultivating a positive mindset and emotional resilience.
- Strengthened Relationships: Prioritizing self-care enables women to show up fully in their relationships. By meeting their own needs, they can give more to their children, partners, and loved ones. This leads to healthier, more fulfilling connections and a stronger support system.
- Increased Resilience: Engaging in self-care equips women with the tools to cope with challenges effectively. By nurturing themselves, they develop emotional resilience, allowing them to bounce back from adversity and navigate midlife transitions with strength and grace.
- Restored Confidence: Self-care empowers women to reconnect with their inner selves, fostering self-confidence and self-worth. As they prioritize their needs, set boundaries, and engage in activities they enjoy, they reclaim their identity and find a renewed sense of purpose and confidence.
- Increased focus and productivity: By setting boundaries and have proper work and rest time we are allowing ourselves to fully focus on what we are doing and prioritise our health and being. Studies have shown that Self-care can improve productivity by up to 36%.
“By helping us keep the world in perspective, sleep gives us a chance to refocus on the essence of who we are. And in that place of connection, it is easier for the fears and concerns of the world to drop away.”
Arianna Huffington
For women in midlife, self-care is a vital component of leading a fulfilling and balanced life. Prioritizing self-care brings numerous benefits, including improved physical health, enhanced emotional well-being, strengthened relationships, increased resilience, restored confidence and more focus and productivity. By embracing self-care practices, women can navigate the challenges and transitions of midlife with more grace and vitality. Can we shed the to do lists, the ´shoulds´, the guilt and fear and let self-care and confidence be our guiding forces as we embrace the journey of midlife? As we nurturing ourselves we are also empowering ourselves and inspiring those around us. All without losing sight of who we are and what we need.
What can you do differently today for your self-care whether it is setting a boundary, spending some time alone or even starting to think about doing something differently?
Self-care isn´t selfish and putting everyone else last. It is about prioritising our needs as much as everyone else´s.
How can you do that today for you?
As always I would LOVE to hear your thoughts, ideas, feedback, questions on self-care, midlife, confidence and what works for you. Please share in the comments below and also feel free to share this post if you feel it could resonate for someone else you know. Thank you so much for reading!
Images: Max van den Oetelaar, Jon Tyson, Harper Sunday, madison lavern