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Being a mental health advocate and as much as I know the importance of self care, I must say have been having difficulties implementing it into my own life. With me being a full time nursing student, working part time and not to mention other commitments, life has been very busy lately. It was only until two weeks ago when I finally had a whole week off I realised I haven't been prioritising on things I enjoy doing. Instead, I was either working or at uni and every little free time I had I found myself catching up on sleep. I was exhausted to say the least. Not only was this affecting my wellbeing but it was also affecting those around me. I was slowly becoming a colleague/friend from hell.
Self care is something I have been practising for a long time, there are certain things I like doing simply because they help me recharge, unwind and puts me in a better mindset. Understanding your own needs is very crucial for your overall health, it is pretty much self therapy that then allows you to focus on other aspects of your life without being overwhelmed or stressed. However, sometimes life can get hectic and it is easy to forget about yourself in the process. It is important we constantly remember to look after ourselves. Usually, when we start to experience an overload burn-out it is very easy to lose focus that what we consider being "productive" actually becomes counterproductive. We also begin to lose interest in everything around us. Taking a little time out to recharge can help you refocus. Also, avoiding situations that are mentally draining and maintaining healthy relationships with yourself and other people is also a way of practising self care.
There are many tips on how to take care of yourself out there, however it is important to remember that self-care is all about what works best for YOU and certainly isn't always luxury. Whether it's keeping active, spending some time alone connecting with yourself, reading, cooking, travelling etc. whatever it is that you love and puts you in good spirits, always make time for it. This will help you cope with life stress and stay on top of your physically and mentally form.
-Rue xx
