For many people, the quest for personal growth comes after a wake-up call. Sometimes it’s the death of a loved one, a divorce, or a battle
with substance abuse; other times, it’s health-related. No matter what your motivations are for improving your life, it’s important to remember that self-care will play a big role. Positive change must start from within, which means your physical and mental health need to be well taken care of.
Of course, there are many different ways you can achieve this. Self-care can be anything from getting daily exercise to making time to read a book. Basically, it comes down to doing things that make you feel happy in a healthy way, reducing stress and anxiety, and finding ways to enrich your self-esteem and self-confidence.
Keep reading for some great tips on how to get started.
Make Time for Yourself
Self-care usually starts with making time for your hobbies, interests, and health, so take a few moments out of your day to do something you enjoy. Whether you want to practice a hobby, cook yourself a good meal, or simply sit and watch your favorite television show, it’s important to do so even when your schedule gets full. Setting aside a little time for yourself can help you ease stress and give you the energy to take care of all your daily responsibilities.
Create a Healthy Work/Personal Life Balance
Having a healthy balance between your home and work life is essential, as it reduces stress and allows you to focus on what’s most important. There are several ways you can do this, such as making sure you take breaks during the day, learning how to say “no” when you’re feeling overworked, and setting boundaries when it comes to doing work at home. Unless it’s an emergency, those emails can wait.
Go Back to School
More and more people are finding that going back to school is a viable option these days because technology has made it so much easier. Whether you want to finish a degree or go for a Master’s, you can probably take most of your classes online from the comfort of your own home, and there may be grants you qualify for that will keep you from taking out thousands of dollars in loans. The Princeton Review has some great tips on going back to school successfully.
Work Out Every Day
Getting in a daily workout is important not just for your physical health but for your mental health as well. Exercise can help you reduce stress by becoming a healthy release for all the things you go through in a given day, and it can help clear your mind when you’re feeling overwhelmed. There are tons of benefits to daily workouts -- especially if you are in recovery for substance abuse -- because you can build up your body while working on your ability to manage the way you cope and react to negative feelings.
Consider a New Career
For many people, the quest for personal growth comes with the need to make a career change. If you’ve been feeling unsatisfied with your job or can’t see yourself staying there in your five-year plan, it might be time to think about heading in a new direction. Going back to school can definitely help, but if you don’t want to commit to a degree, you can look for single classes that will help you learn what you need to know for a new job.
Practicing self-care can be tough, as it encompasses your body, mind, and soul. It’s important to start with a good plan and talk to your doctor before making any changes that could impact your health. Also, talk to your loved ones about your goals so they can support you during this time.
Photo via Pixabay by DesignedByJess
REFERENCES
self-care:
https://lifehacker.com/why-self-care-is-so-important-1770880812
reducing stress:
https://www.skillsyouneed.com/ps/stress-tips.html
little time:
https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-9795/5-tips-to-get-more-time-to-yourself.html
setting boundaries:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/payout/2017/09/19/practicing-self-care-is-important-10-easy-habits-to-get-you-started/#51919699283a
great tips:
https://www.princetonreview.com/college-advice/back-to-school-study-tips
tons of benefits:
https://www.adrugrehab.org/strong-body-sound-mind/
career change:
https://www.themuse.com/advice/10-mustreads-before-you-start-a-new-job