There’s a common misconception that if we prioritize self-care, we’re selfish.
Don’t get me wrong, if all we ever care about is ourselves, then I can see how that is selfish.
However, I find it so important to make time for self-care.
The better we feel about ourselves and the more we care for ourselves, the better we are overall.
It’s true that until you learn to love yourself, you will be accepting less than the love you deserve.
So I wanted to talk about why I think that self-care is not selfish.
In fact, I want to encourage you to find ways to practice self-care, whatever that means for you.
Why Self Care Isn’t Selfish
Now, let’s break down why self-care isn’t selfish.
When we dedicate time to ourselves, whether that is through exercise, meditation, learning something new, etc. we fill up our own cup.
The fuller that cup is, the more we can pour onto others.
Meaning, the more you dedicate time to care for yourself and get energized, the more you can be there for others.
Whether that’s by listening to someone, or physically helping them, if we are fulfilled with ourselves, we’re more likely to lend a helpful hand.
Think about what flight attendants tell you before departing. They ask that if the cabin loses air pressure, you put your own mask first and then assist others.
In this instance, self-care is that mask you need to put on first before being there for others.
At the same time, if you’re someone who is used to helping others, you know it can be draining.
That’s why it’s so important to re-energize yourself by doing something that makes YOU happy.
How to Prioritize Self-Care
Now that we’ve broken down why self-care isn’t selfish, let’s talk about how to actually practice self-care.
If you’re used to putting yourself last, I’m giving you permission to put yourself first.
Whether that’s because it’s who you are, or whether it’s because you’re a mom (can we please stop shaming moms for taking time for themselves?) now is the time to do something for you.
As I mentioned in the beginning, when we only think about doing things for ourselves without considering others, it’s selfish.
But when we dedicate a few minutes every day out of our busy schedule to do something for ourselves, that’s a much needed self-care.
Whatever your schedule is, I want you to take at least 30 minutes every day to do something for you.
This will be unique to you. How I practice self-care may completely differ from how you practice self-care, and that is okay.
So whether it’s exercising in the morning, meditating every night, taking a bath, getting a massage, unplugging from technology, I want you to give yourself permission to do it.
There may be moments where you feel guilty. There may be moments where you forget to prioritize yourself.
I want you to practice it until it becomes a habit.
If you feel guilty, let the feelings come in, accept them, and understand it’s because that’s your current habit. But we’re forming new habits, so by accepting those feelings you are more likely to grow out of them and move onto your new self-care habit.
They say it takes 21 days to form a habit. Challenge yourself to add a little bit of self-care to your day for 21 days and let me know how it goes.
Comment below if you’re committing yourself to practicing self-care or if you’re already a self-care queen.
