Soothing massages, stunning manicures, crisp little cucumber slivers covering your eyes; all images we tend to imagine when hearing the term “self-care.” Self-care isn’t limited to replenishing your body, though! It can also benefit your emotional well-being, which can improve your physical performance.
Making these emotional self-care mistakes, however, could put a strain on your mental and physical health. Instead, use these tips to start making healthy lifestyle choices. With a few changes, you can improve your emotional well-being and life satisfaction.
Read on to make a change for the better today!
Being Reactive
To actively practice emotional self-care, you need to be proactive about it. Block off time to focus on your self-care. If you overschedule your commitments, it could cause unnecessary stress.
You may feel compelled to cancel plans at the last minute because you feel anxious. Perhaps you’ve told your boss you can’t finish an assignment on time. This habit could damage your reputation and relationships.
Instead of letting this habit escalate, start defining boundaries. Defining clear boundaries will allow you to take care of yourself as needed. You can avoid neglecting responsibilities and piling on more stress.
Take the time to review your professional and personal commitments. Make sure you’re not overwhelming yourself.
If you are, practice saying “no.” Don’t use self-care to shirk your responsibilities. Instead, use it to remain proactive.
Recognize when you’re taking on too much before it becomes harmful to your emotional well-being.
Not Socializing
Socializing can affect our bodies, minds, and behaviors, which impact our health and life expectancy. In fact, social connectedness can lead to better health, a longer life, and improved well-being.
People with strong social bonds have a 50% increased likelihood of survival than those with fewer connections. Social connection could prevent illness, including:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Dementia
- Stroke
- Heart disease
Connecting with others can also improve your ability to recover from stress. It could help you sleep, improving your ability to function during the day. Socializing also reduces your risk of violent and suicidal behaviors.
While self-care might feel like an individualized endeavor, humans are social creatures! Socializing can give you a sense of belonging and community. Having regular, meaningful interactions with others can help you empathize with others.
As part of your emotional self-care routine, socializing can help you recover from anxiety or depression. You’ll have someone to turn to for emotional support.
However, you should try to balance alone time with socialization. Solitude is an important part of self-care. It allows you to recharge and recognize your needs.
Try to avoid putting everything and everyone else before your own care. If you’re juggling too many responsibilities, you could ignore your own needs. People who prefer to stay busy are reactive and not proactive about their self-care.
You may not realize you need a break until you experience burnout. Waiting until you burn out could leave you feeling frazzled and stressed.
To maintain a balance between alone time and socialization, pull up a calendar. Plan time with friends and family members. Between socializing events, schedule time for your own needs.
Never Accepting Mistakes
Making mistakes is a part of life. Dwelling on your mistakes, however, can trigger stress and anxiety. Learn how to accept and move on from your mistakes.
The next time you make an error, try to reframe it as an opportunity to grow. Recognize what went wrong and how you can do better in the future.
Taking accountability for the situation will help you develop problem-solving abilities and emotional resilience.
Neglecting Mindfulness
Being mindful of yourself, your emotional well-being, and your needs will allow you to become more intentional. You can better manage your stress levels if you can recognize your stress symptoms.
Emotional symptoms include becoming easily moody, frustrated, agitated, or overwhelmed. You could have a hard time quieting your mind or relaxing. Stress could also cause you to feel depressed, worthless, or lonely.
Prioritizing mindfulness can contribute to a healthy lifestyle. The next time you’re feeling stressed, turn to your self-care activities.
Try to avoid confusing self-soothing with self-care. Self-soothing activities help us feel better in the short term. However, they don’t usually sustain us for a period of time.
Self-soothing activities could cause negative habits, poor health, or dependencies. These activities may involve alcoholic drinks, smoking, or comfort food for stress relief.
Self-care activities, on the other hand, support our long-term development.
Before spending time on your self-care, ask yourself if the activity contributes to your mental, physical, or emotional health. If it doesn’t, it’s probably self-soothing, not self-care.
Self-care activities include:
- Drinking water
- Practicing good sleep hygiene
- Setting goals
- Practicing gratitude
- Staying connected
- Exercising
- Reading
- Dancing
- Meditation
- Yoga
Not Investing Time
Over half of the Americans surveyed consider self-care a priority. These Americans spend an average of 38 minutes a day on self-care efforts. However, only 15% are prepared to spend over an hour on themselves.
Unfortunately, about 42% of Americans say they lack the motivation to focus on themselves.
Caring for ourselves requires a time commitment. Between your work and family obligations, you could feel stretched for time. However, sacrificing your self-care could leave you feeling mentally, physically, and emotionally drained.
You’ll have less energy to dedicate to big, important tasks if you’re neglecting your self-care.
If you’re not investing time in your own self-care, plan ahead. Start by finding 30 minutes a week to dedicate to self-care. Increase how long you spend on weekly or daily self-care over time.
Consider using an app to balance productivity and well-being this year.
Prioritize Your Emotional Self-Care Today
Neglecting emotional self-care can cause your mental, physical, and emotional well-being to suffer. Instead, use these tips to start making healthy lifestyle choices. Making time for self-care will foster a sense of balance in your life.
Remain mindful to avoid these self-care mistakes.
Working with a trainer can help you avoid future mistakes as you strive to turn your goals for a healthy life into a reality. My programs at Z Physique can help you reach your goals. Contact me today to become fitter, stronger, and more confident at home!