Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you!! Anne Lammott

In this world of 24-hour connectivity, we are constantly running somewhere to get something or the other. Even if we disconnect from our gadgets for a while, we forget to disconnect ourselves from the hustle around us. Instead of taking a breather for a while, we just keep on changing compartments throughout the day and at the end of the day often complain that we are completely drained of energy. But then, the demands of the coming day take charge of us, and we are again ready to join the race.

I agree that this race is a part of our lives now. Afterall, we all have to achieve something. A student needs to do well academically to get a job, an employee needs to perform better to get a promotion, a couple works hard to buy their dream home, parents juggle continuously to secure the future of their children, and the list goes on. But the most important thing we tend to forget is the fact that even the machines need regular fueling and service to be in place, and we are living beings, how can we forget to take care of ourselves if we want not just to stay put here but also to enjoy this journey. So, are you taking care of yourself??

In our culture, prioritizing the needs and wellbeing of others over self has always been glorified. Therefore, self-care is automatically viewed as “selfish”. But I have seen many examples where the person (no gender bias please!) who is always ready to be for everyone else around crumbles down one day and they have nowhere to go! If we don’t pay attention to what we need, how can we fulfil the needs of others after all you can’t pour from an empty cup. You have to refill your cup first before offering help to others. Remember, the airhostess always reminds to be sure to adjust your own oxygen mask before helping others.

Now that we know the importance of self-care, we should understand how to take care of ourselves. Our physical health is the first step to begin with. Our body is the engine of our life. To keep the life running, we must fuel our body daily by giving it healthy food, sound sleep and a dose of exercise. What is the use of the money I earn if it doesn’t let me eat or sleep peacefully. So, make sure to make time in your daily schedule for keeping your body fit.

The next most important aspect of self-care is mental health. We can face the challenges thrown our way if we are mentally strong. When we regularly evaluate our abilities, work on increasing our productivity, learn to deal effectively with daily stressors, we are able to maintain a status of mental wellbeing. Emotional regulation is very important part of good mental health. When you take control of how you are going to respond to any situation, dealing with that situation becomes easy. For eg, reacting to any triggering situation with anxiety or anger not only worsens the situation but also affects your peace of mind. So, it is necessary to be conscious of how you are feeling and carefully working on the intensity and frequency of emotional responses. Engaging in activities which you enjoy, practicing mindfulness, being assertive (rather than being aggressive or submissive), setting realistic goals, learning new skills, spending quality time with loved ones are some ways in which you can take care of your mind. Taking professional help when you are struggling with emotional issues is absolutely fine, so don’t hesitate.

When you take care of both your body and mind, you are at peace, and you tend to have meaningful interactions with people in your personal and professional space which result in healthy relationships. You become a better person when you keep on working on yourself.

So, just start looking after you because,

It is only when you have mastered the art of loving yourself that you can truly love others! Robin Sharma.