Five reasons to practise self-care when life is busy

self-care

For many busy mumpreneurs, the concept of self-care is often lost, amid overloaded schedules, hungry kids, and ranking just about everything above the fundamental need for things like rest, quiet time, exercise and pleasure.

Something always seems more important. And taking good care of themselves is the first thing to go when the calendar gets crowded or life gets overwhelming.

What is self-care?

Self-care has been defined as “the care taken by individuals towards their own health and well-being — including the care extended to the family and the community”.

It’s an essential life skill that’s intimately connected to health, happiness, and wellbeing.

What are the costs?

Constantly meeting the needs of others while ignoring personal self-care can have serious physical, emotional and even spiritual ramifications, leading to feelings of irritability, resentment, frustration, exhaustion, and increased health issues.

Why is it important to practice self-care?

Self-care isn’t just important, it’s crucial. When the body and mind are nurtured, energy and enthusiasm are replenished and motivation increases.

Here are five important reasons to practise self-care, especially when you are busy.

1. Self-care is fuel
When busy women are well cared for, they show up more vibrant, energized, and productive – whether they’re heading to a tough meeting, a presentation they’re passionate about or want to speak up on behalf of others.

This has a flow-on effect into all other areas of their life-giving them charge of their time.

2. Physical and emotional health
Self-care restores, renews and refreshes the mind, addressing emotional needs and feeds the heart and soul because one’s enthusiasm ramps up as well as the ability to feel positive about challenging situations. Making clear time to practice self-care will result in:

Making clear time for self-care will result in:

  • Strengthening confidence and self-worth.
  • Increase in Self-esteem.
  • Having a positive outlook on life.
  • This means making better food choices.
  • Wanting to move your body.

Regular self-care means attending to one’s needs and has been proven to reduce emotional eating urges and cravings.

3. Stress and overwhelm
Creating a regular self-care practice helps to reduce overwhelm and prevent mental, physical, and emotional burnout.

  • Reduces the negative impacts of stress and overwhelm, creating feelings of being anchored and grounded.
  • Helps prevent mental, physical, and emotional burnout.

The times that self-care practices are postponed are likely the times they are needed the most.

4. Focus and productivity
Self-care primes busy mumpreneurs to be more productive, showing up as the best version of themselves in both business and personal relationships.

It also leads to better decision making and feelings of satisfaction so they are less drawn to unhealthy “escape” behaviours like procrastination or stress eating.

Taking frequent breaks from their busy daily schedule and doing things for themselves will help busy women to:

  • Have better focus
  • Perform better
  • Be more productive
  • Feel more enthusiastic to do their chores
  • Get more done easily

5. Relaxation and calm
Self-care creates feelings of relaxation and calm. This promotes the ability to approach situations with a fresh perspective and respond intentionally instead of mindlessly or defensively reacting. It makes one happier – and it feels good. What’s not to love?

What does this mean to you

Think of self-care as doing the best to make sure your body, mind, spirit, and heart are nourished and fuelled on a regular basis in order to show up being the person you are meant to be, and contribute to those around you in a meaningful and intentional way.

In the words of Audre Lorde, “I have come to believe that caring for myself is not self-indulgent. Caring for myself is an act of survival.”

Irena Geller, Emotional Eating Coach, irenageller.com.au