Aah, finally a good reason to indulge ourselves!

Self-care means many things to many people. It can mean finally making that hair appointment, pedicure, facial, massage, etc. Or it can also mean making the decision to sit down and think about what we need in our lives that can enhance our existence. Whether it be becoming more aware of what we need to make ourselves more healthy mentally and physically, or just coming to the realization that we are important and worth the time needed to pay attention to our needs.

Many of us are really caught up in becoming caretakers to our families or friends. We are the generation of “givers” and it is often hard to push back a little and give ourselves some time. We bring the covered dishes to church socials and neighbors. We baby-sit grand kids and pets. This is all done with love and it makes us feel appreciated. We still need to find the time for ourselves.

Some of the reasons self-care is important are:

• It helps manage stress and anxiety
• It helps to cope with life’s challenges such as relationship problems, financial stress, or grief.
• It helps you recover from set-backs both physically and mentally.
• It can increase your happiness and improve your concentration.

If you feel uncomfortable about taking time for yourself, try to remember how much self-care will improve your life. So don’t feel so guilty about getting that facial or massage. Just sit back and enjoy. Think of it as making a better version of yourself!