How to Avoid Burnout: The Importance of Self-Care

Through lack of self-care, sleep deprivation kills more than 3000 Australians a year?

Did you know 35% of men and 42% of women always or often felt rushed or pressed for time. Rates were higher among those who provided care to another person than those who did not provide care.

Who needs Self-Care

Self-care is important as a woman. Our lives are so busy being everything to everybody. A daughter, a sister, a friend, a colleague, a mother, a wife, a nurturer, a business woman. A Super-Woman! We wear many hats on an everyday basis. So many we don’t even recognise them all.

You’re overwhelmed at work. You have a ton of projects piling up at home and your calendar is packed with overdue tasks. To make room for all of this stuff, we let go of self-care: we skip lunch, stop going to the gym and forget about your social life entirely. When we’re stressed, self-care is usually the first thing to go. And sadly, that only makes things worse.

What is Self-Care

Self-care then, is simply not and indulgence. It is in fact crucial to our functioning effectively. The social norm places a high value on self-sacrifice: the bigger the sacrifice, the biggest the reward. Compromising on sleep, nutritional needs, exercise and relationships just isn’t worth it!

For sure, it’s easy to take the “hard work pays off” line, because we perceive this as “being good” and some of us equate this with self-worth. However, what actually ends up happening is that when we push too hard, is that it becomes counterproductive. Your abilities are worn. Your skills aren’t as sharp. You lose focus. You might think you’re working hard, and maybe you are in some ways, but you’re not working efficiently. Enter, the “less is more” philosophy.

Why is self-care important

Self care is not just important. It is crucial.

Self-nurturing does not have to be difficult or overly time-consuming. Anything that helps us feel more positive and joyful is self-nurturing. So…here are just 25 ideas, but don’t limit yourself. Think about simple pleasures that speak to you personally and incorporate them into your life each and every day. The result? A happier, healthier you!

The Best 25 activities for Self-care

1. Be Grateful (Keep a Gratitude Journal . . . write down 5 things you are grateful for each day)
2. Practice Relaxation Techniques/Relaxation Therapy
3. Surround Yourself with Positive People (Choose people who help you grow and thrive, Re-connect with loved ones with whom you’ve lost touch)
4. Practice Kindness and Compassion (Remember to help others)
5. Give Praise and Let Go of Criticism
6. Visualize (Choose where you want to be vs. where you are for your visualizations)
7. Do Not Complain (Learn to let it go)
8. Listen to Music You Enjoy (and if you can, dance)
9. Exercise (Choose something you really enjoy, why not try a type of mind/body/spirit exercise like yoga, tai chi or qi gong?)
10. Volunteer and Donate (Promote a cycle of goodwill; pay it forward)
11. Learn Proper Self-Care (Get enough sleep, detoxify, eat a healthy, balanced diet and drink plenty of water . . . learn to listen to your body)

Testimonial for Self-care:

Emma and I would like to thank you for a wonderful day yesterday. We spent our whole time with you feeling like the most important people in the world. Your attention to detail, care and concern was outstanding. It was an experience of indulgence, we are already planning on doing again.

We would highly recommend Jindi Spa to anyone who asks and as I type looking at my beautiful fingernails. I still get a sense of thrill for having had the experience and taken the time to pamper myself and my daughter. Once again thank you for the most outstanding and wonderful experience.

Jayne & Emma – September 2017