Why Self-Care Is So Much More Than Nap Time & Bubble Baths
Putting yourself first sometimes requires more work and effort.
Vinicius Wiesehofer via Unsplash By Tylia Flores
Like many people, I’m a huge fan of self-care. In fact, I personally believe that taking care of myself before anyone else not only benefits me, but also helps everyone around me.
But even though relaxing in a warm bubble bath or taking a long nap can feel great after a long day of work, self-care is so much more than that.
Self-care means doing what’s best for your body.
Taking proper care of yourself means that you nourish your body, get enough sleep, and satisfy your basic needs. Taking care of yourself should also include making regular appointments with your doctors and taking your medications as prescribed.
Self-care also means taking control of your life. It could mean spending less time with people who cause you undue stress or simply changing your surroundings.
Taking care of yourself sometimes means saying “no” or learning to let go of your problems when they overwhelm you. Although detaching yourself from your friends might feel difficult, you’ll feel so much better once you stand up for yourself and prioritize your needs.
Self-care means personal growth, too. Sometimes we don’t love everything about ourselves, and that’s okay. But, part of caring for yourself is changing difficult surroundings and parts of yourself that you don’t like.
After all, self-discovery and personal growth will ultimately lead you to success and happiness.
But most of all, self-care means loving yourself unconditionally. The best way to show self-care is to take care of your body and mind.
When you put yourself and your needs first, you remind yourself that you are worthy of love and attention. It takes a lot of courage to prioritize your needs, but it’s so important to your overall well-being.
Although relaxing is important, I’ve ultimately learned that self-care involves so much more than just bubble baths and nap time. Self-care is about taking control of your life and refusing to let toxic people or things take priority over yourself.
I hope that you’ll take a moment to look at yourself in the mirror and remind yourself that you’re worthy of self-care. When you put your wants and needs first, you’ll feel so much happier and healthier in the long run.
Tylia Flores is a writer who focuses on self-care, self-love, and health and wellness. For more of her self-care content, visit her author profile on Unwritten.