National Self Care Month 2023

I talk a lot about self care on my blog. Now more than ever as it is Self care month from June 24th- July 24th 2023! I bet some of you didn’t even know that. I know I didnt until I started focusing more on my self care habits and love for myself.

Lucky you because now you get to hear all about self care and self love and how much we need it in our lives!

National Self care Month June 24th-July 24th 2023

According to World Health Organization,

Self-Care Month is an opportunity to:

• raise additional awareness about self-care and self-care interventions
• celebrate the benefits that they bring to people’s lives and what’s been achieved so far
• call for renewed commitments and action to expand health systems to include self-care intervention

To celebrate, here are some self-care practices you can consider:

Again, at the risk of repeating myself … 🙂

Self-care is important because it involves taking deliberate actions to maintain and improve your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It is about prioritizing your own needs and engaging in activities that promote self-nurturing, relaxation, and personal growth. Here are some reasons why self-care is crucial:

1. Overall well-being: Engaging in self-care practices helps improve your overall well-being. It allows you to recharge, reduce stress levels, and maintain a healthier balance between work, personal life, and responsibilities. By taking care of yourself, you are better equipped to handle life’s challenges and enjoy a higher quality of life.
2. Physical health: Self-care includes activities such as exercise, proper nutrition, and adequate rest, which are essential for maintaining physical health. Regular exercise can boost your energy levels, improve cardiovascular health, and enhance your immune system. Eating nutritious meals and getting enough sleep are also vital for your physical well-being.
3. Mental and emotional health: Self-care plays a significant role in maintaining good mental and emotional health. It helps reduce stress, anxiety, and depression by providing opportunities for relaxation, self-reflection, and emotional release. Engaging in activities that bring you joy, such as hobbies or spending time with loved ones, can boost your mood and promote positive emotions.
4. Stress management: Self-care is an effective tool for managing stress. It allows you to step away from daily pressures and engage in activities that help you unwind and relax. Whether it’s practicing mindfulness, taking a walk in nature, or enjoying a bath, these activities can lower stress levels and provide a sense of calm and tranquility.
5. Increased productivity: When you prioritize self-care, you enhance your ability to focus and concentrate. Taking breaks and engaging in activities that recharge you can actually boost your productivity in the long run. By taking care of yourself, you maintain your mental and physical stamina, enabling you to perform better in various aspects of your life.
6. Improved relationships: Engaging in self-care can positively impact your relationships with others. When you prioritize your own well-being, you have more energy and emotional resources to invest in your relationships. You can communicate more effectively, be more present, and show up as your best self in your interactions with others.
7. Setting boundaries: Self-care empowers you to set boundaries and prioritize your needs. It allows you to say no when necessary, avoid burnout, and prevent feelings of overwhelm. By setting boundaries, you create a healthier balance in your life and ensure that you allocate time and energy for self-nurturing activities.

Self-care is not selfish—it is essential for your overall well-being and happiness. By taking care of yourself, you become better equipped to care for others and lead a more fulfilling life.

Why do People Give up on Self care so Easily?

There can be several reasons why people may give up on self-care easily. Here are a few common factors:

1. Lack of time: People often lead busy lives with multiple responsibilities, such as work, family, and social commitments. Finding time for self-care can be challenging, and when faced with a time crunch, self-care activities are often the first to be sacrificed.
2. Unrealistic expectations: Some individuals may have overly ambitious or perfectionistic expectations of self-care. They may believe that self-care requires a significant amount of time, effort, or resources, which can be discouraging and lead to giving up when they feel they cannot meet those expectations.
3. Guilt or selflessness: Many people prioritize the needs of others over their own well-being. They may feel guilty or selfish for taking time for themselves, especially if they perceive it as taking away from the care they provide to others. This mindset can make it challenging to prioritize self-care consistently.
4. Lack of motivation or enjoyment: Self-care activities should ideally be enjoyable and fulfilling. If someone doesn’t find joy or satisfaction in the activities they engage in, they are more likely to give up on them quickly. It’s important to find self-care practices that align with one’s interests and preferences.
5. Lack of support: Having a support system or accountability partner can significantly enhance motivation for self-care. Without encouragement or support from others, individuals may find it harder to stay committed and may give up more easily.
6. Mental health challenges: Mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, or burnout, can make self-care feel overwhelming or unattainable. When someone is struggling with their mental health, they may lack the energy or motivation to engage in self-care practices.

Overcoming these challenges often involves recognizing the importance of self-care, setting realistic expectations, prioritizing time for oneself, seeking support from others, and finding self-care activities that resonate with individual preferences and needs. It’s also beneficial to seek professional help if mental health issues are impacting one’s ability to engage in self-care effectively.

However, there is another group. Even if they do have the time and are willing to focus on self care, they struggle with guilt when dedicating time and energy to themselves.  So it is fitting to explore the reasons behind this guilt, and brainstorm practical strategies to practice self-care without feeling guilty.

7 Tips to Embrace Self Care without Guilt

By embracing self-care and prioritizing our own needs, we can cultivate a healthier and more balanced lifestyle.

1. Understanding Self-Care

To embark on a guilt-free self-care journey, it’s crucial to understand what self-care truly means. Self-care involves purposefully engaging in activities that promote well-being and rejuvenation. It encompasses various domains, including physical, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects. By investing time in self-care, we recharge our batteries, reduce stress, enhance resilience, and ultimately improve our overall quality of life.

2. Recognizing the Guilt Trap

Many individuals experience guilt when prioritizing their own needs over others’. Understanding the root causes of this guilt can help us address it effectively. Societal expectations, perfectionism, and the belief that self-care is selfish are some common sources of guilt. By acknowledging these influences, we can challenge the guilt trap and work towards a healthier mindset.

3. Shifting Your Mindset

To practice self-care without guilt, it’s essential to shift our mindset and recognize that self-care is not a luxury but a necessity. We must understand that taking care of ourselves enables us to better care for others. By reframing self-care as an act of self-preservation and self-love, we can overcome guilt and embrace it as a fundamental part of our well-being.

4. Setting Boundaries

Establishing clear boundaries is crucial for guilt-free self-care. Learning to say no, delegating tasks, and setting realistic expectations are essential skills. By communicating our limits to others and honoring our boundaries, we create space for self-care activities without feeling guilty or overwhelmed by external demands.

5. Prioritizing Self-Care

To make self-care a regular part of our lives, we need to prioritize it. Creating a self-care routine, setting aside dedicated time, and treating it as non-negotiable are effective strategies. By integrating self-care into our daily or weekly schedule, we send a powerful message to ourselves and others about its significance in our lives.

6. Exploring Self-Care Practices

Self-care practices are highly personal and can vary greatly from person to person. Engaging in activities that bring joy, relaxation, and fulfillment is key. This section will explore various self-care practices such as physical exercise, mindfulness, creative pursuits, social connections, and more, providing readers with a range of options to choose from.

7. Overcoming Guilt Triggers

Despite our best efforts, guilt triggers may still arise. It’s important to identify these triggers and develop strategies to overcome them. Addressing negative self-talk, seeking support from loved ones, and cultivating self-compassion are effective techniques. By challenging guilt triggers head-on, we can navigate them with confidence and continue to prioritize our self-care.

Practicing self-care without guilt is a transformative journey that requires self-reflection, mindset shifts, and intentional actions. By understanding the importance of self-care, setting boundaries, and prioritizing our well-being, we can overcome guilt and create a sustainable self-care routine. Remember, self-care is not selfish; it is an act of self-preservation and empowerment. Embrace self-care, nurture your well-being, and watch as your life flourishes with balance and fulfillment.

I hope you found a lot of takeaways from this post to celebrate yourself not just on this National Self care month but everyday as well!

Now as a token of appreciation, please go ahead and download this Daily Gratitude Journal  for jotting down everything you are thankful for in this life. You can also click on this image below!

Gratitude is the greatest form of Self care.

Happy National Self care Month!

Love and Light to all of you xx

P.S: Check out my shop on the blog to see all the new stuff I added- planners and printable if that’s your thing!