Why bother with self-care? 5 benefits of creating a self-care routine that will transform your life

5 life-changing benefits to making self-care a priority in your life ... and when you see these, you'll definitely want to re-think self-care!

Self-care is simple. It’s not about fluffy-bunny, light-a-candle, have-an-indulgent-massage type stuff. Self-care is far more about tuning in to your needs - mentally, emotionally, physically – and taking action to do specific things on purpose to take better care of yourself.

Self-care is about setting boundaries. Putting YOU first! Because if you take a moment to think back, when was the last time you really allowed yourself time to slow down and do something that recharged your batteries?

Life can be busy and chaotic, and so most of us rarely give ourselves a moment to rest. We end up putting our needs on the last rung of the ladder and we struggle because of it. Making self-care a part of your daily life is one of the best things you can do for your overall health and well-being.

Here are 5 life-changing benefits to making self-care a priority in your life.

:: You become more productive

When you start choose to make self-care a priority, you become more intentional with your time. You learn to cancel the tasks or reject commitments that are not fully aligned with your values - and you choose to say ‘yes’ to those that do, as you have more time and energy for them. Instead of pushing yourself to the brink, you are more aware of the signs of burnout or exhaustion and you keep a lookout for them. You are more aware of when you are reaching your limit … and you simply stop. Self-care allows you to refresh and recharge, which helps you accomplish your to-do list in a much more efficient and effective way.

:: You feel you are a better caregiver

It’s so hard to care for, or give, someone else your time and energy when you yourself are running on empty. Self-care allows you to fill your cup first and recharge your batteries, so you have more to give to others when the time comes. No matter if you have small children, a thriving business, or you’re taking care of an ageing parent - the concept is the same. In order to operate at 100%, you have to make space and time for your own needs before anyone else’s. You’ll be much more compassionate and giving when you intentionally make yourself a priority.

:: You become aware of more blessings in your life

Practicing gratitude, in itself, is a powerful form of self-care that can bring about many positive changes to your life. When you nurture a daily gratitude practice (it can literally be just 3 things at the end of the day), you will feel happier, more confident and less likely to direct your thoughts towards what may be lacking. You start appreciating the small things that used to go unnoticed. You make more time to reflect on what is truly important to you. And you become more aware of - and more open to receive - the blessings in your life when you intentionally start making yourself a priority.

:: You notice physical health improvements

Through a regular self-care practice, you will notice a tendency to be more proactive when it comes to your health and wellness. You begin seeing the importance of an active lifestyle, as well as listening to your body when you need to relax and recharge. Nourishing your body with good food, resting when your body needs rest, cultivating good sleep hygiene, and taking yourself to the doctor on a regular basis for wellness check-ups - these are all part of a healthy self-care routine that boosts immunity levels and helps to keep sickness and fatigue at bay. Your energy levels will noticeably begin to skyrocket, and your mood will improve as well - all because you choose to make self-care a priority in your daily routine.

:: You begin to allow self-love into your life

If I invited you know to jot down 5 areas of your life that could use a little more love and compassion, what would they be? Self-care helps you to become much more aware of how you treat yourself, inside and out. When you start taking care of your mind and body, it becomes so much easier to see how you may have neglected yourself over the years. Your eyes become wide open to all bad coping mechanisms, the unhealthy eating habits, and the negative self-talk that you have allowed yourself to rely on. That awareness is key in allowing more self-love into your life.

These are just a few of the many, many benefits of making self-care a priority in your life. It doesn’t take a lot of time, effort or money to begin. You just need to make a choice, right now, that you are going to intentionally put yourself first, from this moment on.

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There are also lots of ways in which we, here at CreaTEAvity Studio, can help you to create and cultivate a self-care routine:

If you are feeling curious and would like to think more about upping your self-care routine, you are most welcome to download our self-care self assessment quiz - PDF, nothing fancy or high-tech! - for you to see for yourself areas in which a little more self-care might be welcome.

And you are also most welcome to download the accompanying ebook '25 simple ways to being putting yourself first' … (with space for you to journal your thoughts as you read through each way). I hope you find them useful, as well as illuminating for your
self-care journey.