Everyone who knows you knows that you’re akin to superman and superwoman. How does this magnificent creature do it? they think of you. You get stuff done that no one else can. You juggle more tasks than a trained circus performer. You give and give, all day–to kids, spouse, and/or job. You might win the most-valuable-player award, but you’re dog tired.
Some of the satisfaction in life comes from a job well done. But what you might need to remember is that sometimes, satisfaction also comes from a job not done.
There’s no sin in slowing down, especially since experts say that reducing stress can greatly enhance your life satisfaction, and even length of life. Since you’ve always been the person to give to others and put yourself last, it might be time to stretch those unused muscles and start taking care of you. What can you do to improve your quality of life? You can start by practicing the healthy kind of selfishness.
We’re all taught as kids to be less selfish, and while this aids us as adults 90% of the time, some of us have taken it too far and forgotten how to meet our own needs. We run around like a chicken with its head cut off, tending to others, while our own needs go unmet. We grow frazzled. We grow irascible. We wonder where the simple joy of giving our time and energy ended up.
Thankfully, the joy of giving will come right back, once you give yourself a few gifts first. Remember that you are not more important than other people–but you aren’t less important either! Take some time to give yourself a present or two.
These gifts-to-you will come in a variety of packages. For most of us, we need to take better care of our bodies. We might go to the gym and few times a week and even eat well, but we’re still ignoring persistent health problems. If you struggle with poor sleep, a gift to yourself can be getting tested for sleep apnea, or perhaps cleaning the machine you already have but don’t use enough. It can be saying yes to more of your impulses, or saying no to others a little bit more. It can be taking a luxurious weekend trip to a spa, turning off all your devices and basking in the silence of zero obligations.
The ways you take care of yourself will be as unique as you are, but experts all agree that self-care is a necessary part of a fulfilling life. You might meet other people’s needs, but don’t wait for someone else to meet yours! You deserve relaxation and care right now, and you deserve to get it from yourself.
Don’t wait–invest in you!
