You Are Important: Creating a Healthy Life Balance Through Self-Care

According to Mental Health America (2019), there is an undeniable connection between our spiritual, physical, and mental health that significantly impacts our overall well-being. If one of these areas is out of balance, we can experience distress in many areas of our lives. To put this into perspective, an unhealthy or unbalanced diet can cause physical fatigue or low energy, sleep issues, and a number of other health-related issues, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and other chronic diseases. Therefore, it is paramount that we focus on caring for ourselves, holistically, leaving no area of our well-being, deprived. Accomplishing this can be done through the deliberate practice of self-care.

Self-care is defined as, “a naturalistic decision‐making process addressing both the prevention and management of chronic illness [mental and spiritual health], with core elements of self‐care maintenance, self‐care monitoring, and self‐care management” (Riegel, B. et, al., 2017, p. 2). Implementing self-care techniques can a be a challenge. With our busy lives and hectic schedules, the normal ‘hustle and bustle’ of life can create a natural routine that very rarely involves taking time out and taking care of ourselves. Balancing responsibilities with family, children, significant others/spouses, work, bills, school, etc. can be exhausting. While taking care of these responsibilities, it’s easy to fall into a routine and neglect to spend time taking care of our own needs.

The ability to balance all of life’s responsibilities can have a positive impact on your overall health. When deciding on self-care practices, it’s important to understand the spirit-mind-body concept of health. Focusing on your spiritual health can take on different forms, depending on how you understand your own spirituality. For some, its church and prayer; for others its yoga and meditation; and then for some its connecting with the Earth, Sun, and its resources. We all have our own way of connecting spiritually. The goal is to make time to cater to this part of your life. Equally important, are your mental and physical well-beings. Taking time out to focus on your mental health can significantly reduce stress, depression, anxiety, and other chronic mental issues. Eating a healthy diet, exercising, and even spending time outside in the sun can create a healthy functioning body (and mind).

There are simple and practical ways to implement self-care practices. Here is a simple guide to creating a healthy life balance through self-care:

1. Make your physical health a priority

o Visit your Primary Care Physician regularly

o Eat healthier: implementing healthy foods into your diet is important for your overall health. Eat more fruits and vegetables; limit your sugar, carbs, and intake of processed foods.

o Get more sleep: getting the recommended amount of sleep (7-8 hours for adults) has a direct impact on overall health

o Exercise or be active: participating in at least 30 minutes of activity, per day, can significantly reduce risks for major health problems, as well as, increase your energy and make you feel good, overall

o Get a massage

o Avoid alcohol and drugs

2. Make your spiritual health a priority

o Attend church regularly or join a church, if you are not a member of one

o Take time for yourself: take a trip, alone. Spend quiet time at home, alone. Take a long, hot bath. Take a peaceful drive in the mountains.

o Meditate or go to yoga

3. Make your mental health a priority:

o See a therapist, psychiatrist, or life coach: having regular visits with a professional to deal with depression, anxiety, and any other chronic mental issue can have a positive impact on your quality of life. So many of us carry issues from our pasts, work stressful jobs, operate in unhealthy relationships, etc. that sometimes we need to seek professional help in order to overcome these obstacles. There are many resources available to help you find a professional in your area.

o Set emotional boundaries- learn to say “no” to people, obligations, and emotions that may create more distress in your life.

o Spend more time with positive people. Take a “girls” or “guys” trip with your friends. A healthy support system is important because it provides the opportunity to connect with people who love and care about you, and who will be there when you need help.

4. Lastly, make time to have fun!

Implementing these practices into your life can impact the way you feel physically, mentally, and spiritually and can increase your quality of life. It is important to make YOU a priority in your busy life. Many of us make excuses as to why we can’t spend more time focusing on ourselves. One thing to understand, if you do not adequately take care of yourself, love yourself enough to make self-care a priority, you will be unable to fulfill all of your other obligations in your life. It’s imperative that you focus on you, because, you are important!

References

Riegel B., Moser D.K., Buck H.G., Dickson V.V., Dunbar S.B., Lee C.S., … Webber DE. (2017) Self-care for the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease and stroke: A scientific statement for healthcare professionals from the american heart association. American Heart Association,6(9), 1-25. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.117.006997

Taking good care of yourself. (2019). Retrieved from http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/taking-good-care-yourself