Giving Ourselves Permission for Self-Care

Giving Ourselves Permission for Self-Care

In February 2020, when the world was still blissfully unaware of the pandemic that was about to take over, I found myself in the ICU facing septic shock. My life was almost taken away from me and it made me realize how important self-care is.

Since then, I have been giving myself permission to prioritize my own wellbeing. Self-care is not a luxury; it’s a necessity. It’s about understanding our needs and taking action to meet them. It means setting boundaries and saying no when we need to, as well as giving ourselves permission to rest and recharge.

However, when we allow ourselves to practice self-care and make time for it, we can find a renewed sense of energy and motivation that will help us get through difficult times. When I have been at the breaking point before, I can say this because I have been there: allowing yourself permission for self-care is one degree from separation from feeling like you are back in control again.

Women are 30% more likely than men to experience the symptoms of chronic stress due to juggling multiple demands, from their work, family and social lives. Taking time out for ourselves can help us manage our stress levels and give us permission to take care of our physical and mental health.

One way of practicing self-care is by setting a specific time on your calendar to find a quiet place where you can be alone with your thoughts. This could be a corner in your house or even a park bench outside where you can take some time for yourself each day. Taking time out for yourself will help you relax and recharge so that you can handle whatever life throws at you with more ease.

In addition to finding your quiet place, there are many other practical tips that can help us practice self-care on a daily basis. These include setting aside time for exercise, eating healthy meals, getting enough sleep, creating boundaries around work and leisure activities, engaging in creative activities like writing or drawing, and spending quality time with friends and family members.

I often hear clients say in our coaching sessions that they are too tired at the end of the day, that they don’t have any time for themselves or that they are always putting themselves last. This can lead to feelings of burnout and overwhelm which can impact our productivity, relationships and mental health.

It is important to give ourselves permission to take at least 10-30 minutes of daily self-care; not out of selfishness but because we need it in order to be able to give our best in all other aspects of life.

Women have often been conditioned to put the needs of others before their own. But self-care is an essential part of taking care of our mental and physical health. To make sure that we are taking care of ourselves, we can then take care of the needs before us.

Unfortunately, many of us don't make it a priority. That's why I would like to dedicate May as Women’s Self-Care Month to give ourselves permission to take the time to focus on our well-being.

This Women’s Self-Care Month. let us take one aspect of self-care to focus on each day and commit to doing something for ourselves. It could be something small like taking 10 minutes out of our day for a quick walk outside or something bigger like scheduling a coaching appointment with me or getting a massage. So, let's give ourselves permission to take this step together and make May all about taking care of our mind, heart, body, and soul!

Marla Turnbull, NBC-HWC

National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach

Owner – Nature’s Divine Healing

Optimal Recovery, LLC

Office – 412-302-4638