Why Self-Care Isn't Selfish

Last week after visiting my Mum.in hospital, one of the regular nurses escorted me to the exit as I was leaving. He asked me how I was coping with my Mum's illness and we chatted for a few minutes. As I left, he said, "Make sure you take care of you."  He then stressed, " I mean it - it's very important."  I thanked him for his care and concern and assured him I would heed his advice.
A reminder to take care of myself is the most common piece of advice  I've received from many different people since I began caring for my Mum - and it's very valuable advice that we all need to be reminded of as it's easy to forget.  Taking care of yourself isn't selfish, it's the best thing you can do for yourself and your loved ones.

Put Your Own Oxygen Mask On First

The advice we've all heard during the pre-flight safety demonstration each time we fly reinforces the importance of putting your oxygen mask on before you help others. Assisting your loved ones to survive while dying yourself isn't a sound strategy and not something they would want for you.  If you die you can't help anyone ever again. Just by taking the time to put your oxygen mask on first you can save your life and be so much more useful to those around you.
This concept borrowed from the pre-flight safety demonstration has become a powerful metaphor for self-care. that we can apply to all aspects of our own lives.

Are You Clear About Your Boundaries?

When I was growing up learning about how to set and uphold personal boundaries, didn't exist. This important skill, which I did;t discover until my 20s,  is necessary for healthy interactions with others and provides you with the ability to protect yourself.  An example of this would be if you work for an employer who expects you to respond to phone calls late at night which wasn't part of your original work agreement. This requirement is disruptive to your family life, sleep quality and the ability to disconnect from your job. By communicating to your employer that phone calls at night are not acceptable to you are establishing a boundary and you are prioritising your self-care. You can set boundaries in any area of your life that you feel is compromising your ability to care for and protect yourself.

What Happens When You Neglect Yourself?

When you don't prioritise self-care you can experience symptoms such as exhaustion and a feeling of being unable to complete tasks that are usually simple for you. You may feel overwhelmed and that you will never get through everything on your to-do list no matter how hard you try. You may have poor sleep quality, heart palpitations and other physical symptoms such as headaches and stomach aches. If you aren't maintaining a healthy diet you could gain or lose weight and develop blood sugar issues. This can lead to anxiety, depression and many other diseases.  So how can you avoid this trap?

Taking Time For Yourself With Pilates

Establishing a Pilates practice for yourself is the ultimate form of self-care. As Pilates is a mind-body connection it will encourage you to be in the present moment which many of my clients refer to as "moving meditation."  Breathing and meditation have been proven to bring us out of the: "fight or flight" response and back into the "rest or digest" state so combining that with movement is very powerful.  Investing in your health and fitness with Pilates provides benefits during your session as it helps you to overcome chronic pain and stay pain-free as well as future-proofing yourself against injury as you age. It also helps to promote good quality sleep and when you are feeling good you are more likely to choose a healthy, nourishing diet. Pilates provides both physical and mental benefits and my unique online Pilates program is highly convenient as you can cut the stress of the commute and have sessions virtually in the comfort of your home.

Self-care isn't selfish and if you want to make yourself a priority and are ready to start 1 on 1 virtual Pilates sessions with me email me at [email protected]. Alternatively, sign up HERE and we can schedule an appointment time. If you want to work independently join my online Pilates program of on-demand videos which I specifically designed to help you recover from pain or injury  It would be my pleasure to assist you on your self-care journey through PIlates!