SELF CARE AND HEALTH OF WOMEN
For most of us, the concept of self care is lost amid cell phones, hungry kids, impatient bosses and the 24/7 news channels that are continuously bombarding us with big things to worry about. We prioritize everything – work, kids, aging parents/in laws, friends above our own fundamental need for things like rest, exercise and pleasure. Something else always seems to be more important than our own self care. From childhood we are trained to understand the emotions of others. Women are especially accustomed to pushing their self care further and further down the to-do list. We are trained to take care of others and taught that sacrifice is inextricably linked with motherhood and wifedom.
For me, the hardest thing is to say NO to my kids and claim time and space for myself when they want me. Ignoring our own needs while meeting the needs while meeting the needs of others can have serious physical, emotional and even spiritual ramifications. Scientific study regularly confirms that stress increases a person’s risk of cardiovascular disease and some cancers. The hormone cortisol also builds up in the stressed system and gradually erodes it causing our organs to malfunction, our muscles to lose suppleness, our immune system to breakdown and both our body and brain age faster. Those women who don’t take time to exercise regularly or eat healthy, balanced meals further increase their chances of chronic health problems including diabetes, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and thyroid disorders, ailments that experts believe are often caused at least in part by our frenzied and compromising lifestyle. Emotionally, lack of self care can leave us anxious, depressed and less productive.
It is very important that you value yourself, take time out, listen to your body and do what you want without resistance. When women are emotionally hurt, may be denial, withdrawal and self isolation can be manifested by oneself. Disclosing our emotional tiredness to others often prevented by the fear that exposing it would make us weak to them and also makes us feel powerless. As the women are always labeled “TOO SENSITIVE”.
This is not to say that good self care can’t exist in a context in which you have good, healthy equitable relationships with others. The key part of self care is the notion of the SELF, of you ALONE, not as a sister, a daughter, a wife, a girlfriend, a partner or a friend but as pure and female self.
As a mother, a wife and a career woman, I am also constantly pulled in multiple directions. Despite the pressure to be everywhere and do everything, paying attention to my own needs has kept me grounded. I have seen that I have been the best version of myself after taking time-outs to do things like exercising, socializing, reading and watching a good show. These little things have curbed stress and given me energy needed to get into action with my role as a mother or a wife or a career conscious woman.
ASK THESE QUESTIONS TO YOURSELF:
- Do you struggle to find time for exercise?
- When was the last time you had a massage?
- How often do you skip breakfast or meals because you don’t have enough time to eat?
- Do you focus on what your spouse or kids like to eat rather than you eating?
- Which activity makes you feel at peace?
It’s time to make some changes. Once you know your self-care style, you start with small changes later. For me, getting up early probably has become an invaluable self care way. The mornings are my time. I enjoy the quiet mornings. I pray, I read, listen to music and take a morning walk or go for jogging. With all of this if you are not going to make any changes then I can only say that your lack of self care is only because you don’t know what is best for you.
How to improve self care strategies? Most important are a balanced diet, exercise, solitude and reflection. It could also be relaxing, taking a walk, calling a friend or doing something nurturing to yourself very often just as a proof that you possess worth and that your needs are also valuable.