Why Self-Care Isn't Selfish

As Self-Care September draws to a close, I wonder if you have seen the phrase ‘self-care’ and felt there is no room for it in your life right now.  You may have thought that you don’t have the time, the money or you may just have felt that when life is so overwhelming, the often small-sounding suggestions can’t possibly make the slightest bit of difference to how you ’re feeling.

It's common for people to come to counselling feeling drained or burnt out. You will probably have heard of the phrase ‘you

can’t pour from an empty cup’. When it feels like everybody is demanding things from you it can be hard to put yourself first, and I know from first-hand experience that it can be difficult to not feel guilty when spending time on yourself, but the simple fact is that you need to refuel yourself just as you refuel or charge your car and phone. Sleep, quiet moments and downtime are the things that help us to be more resilient, creative and kind.

Self-care doesn’t have to be perfect or dramatic, it’s often much simpler. It can be just taking five minutes for the small things that you know nourish you. Pick one small thing that feels manageable each day. It might be getting outside, two minutes of focused breathing or setting a boundary and saying ‘no’ to something you don’t want to do. Connection is also something we’re wired for, so swapping some screen time for a short chat with a trusted friend is also an act of self-care.

Self-care isn’t selfish. It’s what allows you to keep showing up for the people and things that matter most.