Self-care is very important for a healthy lifestyle, but unfortunately we can feel shame and guilt for taking care of ourselves.  But what is this popular buzzword, and why do we struggle with it?

“Self-care” is thrown around a lot in social media, and it simply means participating in actions that will benefit your physical and mental health. Improving your confidence, creativity, communication, and more can significantly boost your healthy lifestyle. Sadly, a common misconception is that self-care means being selfish and self centered. This inhibits our ability to take care of ourselves in an effort to be a good person. Little do we realize that taking care of ourselves is the absolute best way to take care of those around us.

Self-care isn’t just a few actions that happen just once or twice, but instead it’s composed of rituals and habits. These habits aren’t selfish, but they’re a regular maintenance that empower us to achieve the best version of ourselves.

Self-care isn’t earned, but instead it is deserved. Just like cleaning your clothes or going to work, self-care is cleaning and maintaining your health in order to become a functioning part of society. An important thing to remember is that taking care of yourself enables you to take care of others.

Guilt is a very human response, and many associate this feeling with taking care of themselves. But the benefits of self-care are a cycle that benefits not just yourself but others. Without self-care, we cannot achieve our goals or grow our careers and relationships. As long as self-care doesn’t turn into overindulgence, it’s totally okay to take that time and effort for yourself.

So how does one go about self-care? Well it’s all about learning about your body and it’s needs. Whether it’s mental or physical, being in tune with yourself helps you maintain a healthy lifestyle. The first thing you’ll want to do is make a list of things you want to fix and improve in yourself and your life. These things could be painting your room a different color, or improving your daily energy. Write it all down!

To highlight the importance of achieving your goals, write down how improving these things can benefit your daily life and your environment. Don’t look at self-care as vanity, but more empowering you to do better. Having more energy can help you build relationships, and having more confidence can make you a good role model.

After you’ve taken note of your goals, the next step is planning your route to get there. Easy examples of this can include investing in a gym membership, going to therapy, or creating a skin care routine. The choice is yours! Investing your time and money into self-care can greatly improve your life.

The final step on this road to self-care is rearranging your priorities. Time is the most valuable commodity we have. Spending it on important things like yourself is a good investment. Take the time you’d typically spend on things like TV or social media, and instead invest in your new self-care rituals. By changing this routine, it can help improve your habits and behaviors making you happier and healthier.

In conclusion: never forget that self-care isn’t selfish or vain. Our emotions greatly impact our actions. By managing your emotions, you can manage any bad behaviors. This makes you the best version of yourself, and all it takes is making yourself a worthy investment!