{"id":1023,"date":"2018-11-20T03:56:44","date_gmt":"2018-11-20T03:56:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/yourmorningcupofinspiration\/?p=1023"},"modified":"2018-11-20T03:56:44","modified_gmt":"2018-11-20T03:56:44","slug":"making-self-care-lifestyle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/yourmorningcupofinspiration\/2018\/11\/making-self-care-lifestyle.html","title":{"rendered":"Making Self-Care a Lifestyle"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"active-activity-adult-1308746\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Many of us wrongly think that \u201cself-care\u201d is the same thing as being \u201cselfish.\u201d Nothing could be further from the truth.\u00a0 It is only when we take care of ourselves that we are able to properly take care of others.<\/p>\n

You cannot effectively serve others if your own needs are not being met. You serve the world best when you are at your best physically, mentally and emotionally.\u00a0 That allows you to have a happy disposition.\u00a0 It allows you to be your most interesting.\u00a0 And it allows you to be your most energized.<\/p>\n

The best way to take care of yourself is to incorporate self-care into your lifestyle. Self-care needs to be a part of your everyday life, like brushing your teeth or eating breakfast.\u00a0 Below are some ways to incorporate self-care into your daily routine.\u00a0 When you take care of your own needs first, then you are better able to take care of those who matter most to you.<\/p>\n

Caring for Your Body:<\/strong> It takes motivation to care of your body.\u00a0 Exercise is work, and eating a salad is not nearly as enjoyable as eating a cookie.\u00a0 But if you don\u2019t take care of your body, your self-esteem will deteriorate because you won\u2019t be happy with your appearance.\u00a0 Worse yet, you will be prone to illness.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t particularly like to exercise. I would rather sip a cup of tea and read a book.\u00a0 However, I like when my clothes fit comfortably.\u00a0 And I like feeling agile and strong.\u00a0 So those things motivate me to incorporate exercise into my daily routine, including going to the gym regularly.\u00a0 They also motivate me to take my dog for a long walk every day, and to do some of my own yard work.\u00a0 The more I move, the better I feel.<\/p>\n

Eating healthy foods is challenging because many unhealthy foods are just so tasty. There is a reason why fast food is popular \u2013 some of it tastes very good!\u00a0 But fast food isn\u2019t nearly as good for you as home cooking.<\/p>\n

The only way to develop long term healthy eating habits is to learn how to cook.\u00a0 Cooking healthy, delicious food is not rocket science. It simply involves finding good quality ingredients, and being able to follow the directions of a recipe.\u00a0 People like to make cooking sound complicated, but there really isn\u2019t much more to it.\u00a0 Once you learn how to cook well, you will love your own cooking more than anything you could get at a restaurant.\u00a0 And you will eat healthier meals in the process.\u00a0 Moreover, your cooking will be more flavorful than a Big Mac –\u00a0I promise!<\/p>\n

Caring for Your Mental Health:<\/strong> I truly believe that mental health is the most important health issue that we face in our country \u2013 and it is the one that is most overlooked.\u00a0 Some mental health issues need professional treatment and medication.\u00a0 However, for many of us, we don\u2019t need that heightened level of intervention.\u00a0 Rather, we simply need to pay closer attention to our mental health, in the same way that we pay attention to our physical health.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, mental health issues aren\u2019t as readily identifiable as physical health issues. It is clear when we have an issue with our bodies.\u00a0 We may have an illness, or perhaps we have gained an unhealthy amount of weight.\u00a0 But mental health issues aren\u2019t so obvious.<\/p>\n

Some tell-tale signs of mental health issues might be the need to drink alcohol on a regular basis, or to sleep excessively. Perhaps you are too quick to fly off the handle and yell at people.\u00a0 Or you may find that your behavior is leading your friends and family to keep their distance from you.\u00a0 All those things may indicate that you need to start taking care of your mental health.<\/p>\n

We need to care for our minds as we do our bodies. We need to \u201cfeed\u201d our minds with healthy \u201cfood.\u201d\u00a0 That means being vigilant about what we read on the Internet and what we watch on television.\u00a0 There is a lot of negative nonsense on the Internet, and there is a lot of violent garbage on television.\u00a0 In order to keep your mind healthy, you have to forgo viewing that kind of stuff.<\/p>\n

Instead, fill your mind with positive thoughts. I find that it makes a huge difference to my attitude when I read books by people who are encouragers.\u00a0 My daughter recently gave me a book called \u201cThe Book of Joy,\u201d by the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.\u00a0 It is a book that is full of wisdom about living a joyful life.\u00a0 When I read it, I naturally feel more at peace.\u00a0 I also try to restrict my television watching to comedies, and I try to limit the negative news that I watch.\u00a0 By feeding my mind with good thoughts, I am able to keep myself mentally healthy and on track.<\/p>\n

Caring for Your Emotional Health:<\/strong> Stress, fear, worry and anger are all emotions that sap our energy.\u00a0 They cause us to behave in a distracted and irritable manner.\u00a0 And they limit our ability to simply get through the day.<\/p>\n

When we are emotionally healthy, we are content and at peace. To achieve that, we need to have both a good attitude and reasonably decent life circumstances.\u00a0 As adults, we have some control over both.<\/p>\n

When it comes to having a good attitude, start by appreciating your life.\u00a0 Remember that there is someone out there who would love to have your life. For instance, if you don\u2019t like everything about your spouse, trust me, there is someone out there who will gladly take him or her off your hands.\u00a0 If you don\u2019t like your house or your car, I can assure you that there is someone in a very poor country who would consider your house to be a palace and your car to be the ultimate luxury.<\/p>\n

Appreciating and making the most of what you have will make you happier with your life.\u00a0 So, if you are married, focus on your spouse\u2019s good qualities.\u00a0 If you have belongings, like a home or a car, be happy with what you have.\u00a0 Take good care of your things.\u00a0 If you do so, they will look beautiful, and they will serve you well.\u00a0 By focusing on what you have, rather than what you don\u2019t have, you can achieve a level of contentment that even the richest person cannot attain.<\/p>\n

All that being said, there are times in life when we have to change our circumstances in order to take care of our emotional health. For example, sometimes we have to eliminate people from our lives in order to be at peace.\u00a0 I have found in my own life that some people are just difficult.\u00a0 That is just who they are.\u00a0 No matter how nice you are to them, they will not change because they are fundamentally unhappy people.\u00a0 You may have someone like that in your life, whether it be a family member, friend or spouse.\u00a0 It sounds harsh, but there is nothing wrong with eliminating those people from your life.\u00a0 You are under no obligation to deal with unpleasant people, even if you are related to them.\u00a0 Your emotional health is more important than any social obligation you may feel toward them.<\/p>\n

Sometimes changing our circumstances involves leaving a job which is too stressful. Sometimes it involves moving to some place that is more serene.\u00a0 Don\u2019t be afraid of change!\u00a0 I lived in New York City for a number of years, and I never wanted to leave.\u00a0 But I ended up moving to a more rural part of the country, which I found to be quite beautiful and peaceful.\u00a0 Ultimately, I was glad to give up the excitement of city living for a quieter lifestyle, which is far less stressful.<\/p>\n

Making self-care a priority in your daily life is the most important thing that you can do for yourself.\u00a0 Remember that you deserve to be healthy and content.\u00a0 This week, consider ways that you can make self-care part of your daily routine.\u00a0 You will be happier for it.<\/p>\n

(Photo Courtesy of Pexels)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many of us wrongly think that \u201cself-care\u201d is the same thing as being \u201cselfish.\u201d Nothing could be further from the truth.\u00a0 It is only when we take care of ourselves that we are able to properly take care of others. You cannot effectively serve others if your own needs are not being met. 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You cannot effectively serve others if your own needs are not being met. 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