Why Self Care is More Important Now than Ever Before
There are so many different dimensions to self care, and while it should be foundational to the way we move through life, the majority of us tend to neglect this very important area of wellbeing. It may feel time consuming or selfish to invest in regular self care, but it’s a necessary and powerful part of building resilience in the body and mind.
A January 2021 study by Vagaro¹ found that while 75% of Americans believe self care activities can help reduce stress and 71% report feeling happier after taking time for themselves, only 59% of people practice self care when they feel stressed. The problem is that most people tend to wait for increased stress, total burnout or a crisis to occur before investing in their self care. At this point, all of the body’s resources need to be put toward survival and recovery rather than strengthening and optimizing. This pattern of spreading ourselves thin and wearing ourselves out until self care becomes critical rather than supportive disrupts all of our systems and makes the body more susceptible to disease.
In a similar study conducted by Kelton Global for Birchbox² in May 2019, 39% of men said they consistently make time for self care while only 32% of women reported the same. In the last couple of years, the global health landscape has changed drastically, and with it, so has the conversation around personal responsibility and proactivity with our health and wellness. There’s a greater awareness of the necessity of regular, holistic self care to strengthen the immune response and make us more resilient to stress, but many people still find it challenging to carve out this space in their day.
While we could attribute our difficulty in sticking to a well-rounded, consistent self care routine to a long list of variables, there are some key challenges that show up for many of us.
Time - The most common barrier to consistently practicing self care people report is a lack of time. Work, caring for others, and social commitments can feel all-consuming, especially when we’re already low on energy and feeling the effects of stress. The way around this is to begin prioritizing time for yourself every day, even if all you can afford is 10 minutes. Start small, and make your “me-time” sacred so that it becomes a daily non-negotiable for you.
Sleep - Sleep problems have been steadily rising for years and appear to have worsened over the course of the pandemic, with “insomnia” being Googled more than ever before. When we’re under slept or experiencing poor sleep quality, just getting through the day can feel difficult, never mind investing in self care. But these practices shouldn’t feel like a chore, and they also shouldn’t cut into your sleep time - in fact, making time for deep rest is a major element of self care.
Not seeing it as a priority - If self care feels like a luxury rather than an important part of your day, the change needs to begin with mindset. We are all deserving of loving care, and it’s our responsibility (and duty) to give this to ourselves. It’s common to put the needs of others in front of our own (particularly for women), but neglecting ourselves can often lead to an inability to properly care for others as well. We need to shift our thinking around the way we nurture ourselves, putting self care at the top of our priority list.
The root of these challenges is generally a feeling of overwhelm. When we’re tired and low energy, short on time, and not prioritizing our wellness, it can feel daunting to add another thing to the to-do list. Even if things are pretty solid in your personal life and close circle, we’re living in a climate of fear and uncertainty that puts a greater strain on your mental and physical health, as well as your sense of safety and security.
The load we carry
This frequent activation of the sympathetic nervous system is telling the body it’s constantly under threat, reducing your defences and adaptive energy over time. Chronic fear and anxiety can lead to dysregulation of the endocrine, immune and gastrointestinal systems, disruption of circadian rhythms, increased risk of cardiovascular disease, and imbalances with sex hormones and reproductive health. The emotional and physical bodies are closely connected, and when one is out of balance, chances are the other will be impacted.
Environmental stress in the form of toxicity is also putting a heavier load on the body. With exposure to hundreds of endocrine disrupting toxins every day, the air we breathe, our food and water supply, and the products we use could be making us sick. Supporting the liver and gut with proper nutrients, encouraging healthy lymphatic flow (with movement, dry brushing and self massage), and staying well hydrated are simple self care practices that support the natural detoxification process and help to strengthen your immune response. If you think you might be feeling the burden of toxic overload, take a look at the transformative Detox Fix program for a deeper dive (there are limited spots and the next session begins this fall!)
Crafting your self care routine
Self care is a personal practice that should be as unique as you are, thoughtfully customized to support you in the ways you need. There’s a common misconception that self care is akin to spa days, but the reality is that it extends far beyond this and includes everyday routines you may not typically think of as self care. Start with the fundamentals to build a strong foundation of practices that will lead to more self love in all of your choices:
Wholesome nutrition and mindful eating
Healthy sleep hygiene
Daily supportive movement
Alone time for meditation or journalling
Connecting with loved ones & community
Spending time in nature
These lifestyle practices might not look too far off from the way you’re currently living, or they might require big changes that take time to implement and root into. In any case, you’ll need to approach your self care journey with compassion and patience to make sure it’s something you can commit to long term.
If you’re not sure where to start, feeling depleted, or just want to expand your self care routine, it’s helpful to separate practices into a few categories - physical, mental, spiritual, or whatever you’d like - and set the priority of each activity. Remember that you can change this list as often as you need; you’ll get to know what works best for you over time so you can craft your self care practices to optimize your health and wellness.
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