Approx reading time: 5 minutes
Do you sometimes feel as if you spend your life juggling? With so many demands on us it can become too much and the thought of dropping one of the many balls we have in the air can make us feel afraid or overwhelmed. We just keep going, keep juggling and trying to do it all until we’re exhausted and something has to give. Often that thing is our mental or physical health, relationships, happiness or our ability to think clearly.
We can feel so busy taking care of our responsibilities, working and living our lives that we can forget that we also need to take care of ourselves. And not just for our own benefit-the ripples of not taking good care of yourself can spread far and wide.
What happens when we don’t prioritise our health and wellbeing?
I heard this phrase a few years ago…”If you don’t make time for your wellness, you’ll be forced to make time for your illness.”
We all have pressures and challenges and deal with them in different ways. A little stress is a good thing as it propels us to take action, but too much can impact us in a negative way. Our general health and sense of well-being impacts everything we do, including our performance at work, our relationships, and so much more. Taking a proactive approach in terms of looking after ourselves, and ensuring that those in our employment are given the opportunity and support to do the same is essential. This ensures that we are able to perform at our best in all we do, and avoid problems caused when we become unwell. And subsequently allows us to enjoy and live healthier lives.
“Awareness” “Authenticity” “Self-care”
“Wellbeing” “Healthy work/life balance” “Success”
Some words that we’re all familiar with but what do they mean to you?
How often do you take time to pause and consider what’s really going on in your life and in your work? Are you getting enough good quality sleep? Do you find time to have fun and do the things you love amongst all of the things you ‘have to’ or ‘should’ do? Do you feel fulfilled at work, and in your relationships with your partner, family, friends and colleagues?
Do you want to make some changes, or recognise that you might need to but aren’t sure where to start?
Awareness is key.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, stressed, lacking in self-belief or whatever else might be going on for you, recognising how you’re feeling is the first step in making a change. Once you’ve recognised this, you can begin the next steps towards change.
How can you prioritise yourself more when you seemingly lack the time, or somehow find yourself feeling guilty for doing so? Remembering that “you can’t pour from an empty cup” is important. It’s only when you are feeling at your best that you will be able to support the people that you care about, and do well in whatever you need and want to do. So how can you start doing things differently and make sure that you aren’t neglecting your own needs?
Self-care isn’t selfish, it’s essential.
As the saying goes, “If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always got”. Change can be daunting, but it can also be exciting and bring about new opportunities. The key is to start small. Small changes lead to big things. Everything changes and developing the ability to adapt to change is a very useful skill to build on. You will be able to make some changes on your own and some may be easier with the support of others.
How do you know what needs to change?
What small things could you change that would make your life easier, more enjoyable, less stressful? The first step is to ask yourself some key questions and answer them honestly.
- Think about who you are, what motivates you and what makes you happy/joyful? What energises/relaxes/drains you?
- Who are the people you surround yourself with? Do they support and listen to you? Do you feel good when you’re around them? Or do you find yourself feeling drained when you spend time with them? Don’t forget to consider your part in your interactions with them, and what you could do differently to improve things-if it’s a healthy relationship that you would like to maintain.
- Is your environment supporting or hindering you?
- How do you want to live your life?
- What do you want to achieve?
I’ll be writing additional blogs/articles about each of these. If you’d like to be notified when they’re released, sign up here and I’ll give you a shout when they’re available.
How can you start improving your well-being?
Think about what you could stop/start/keep doing that will help you to help yourself. I know for myself how life-changing that can be. I now have a new career which I love and in which I learn new things all the time. I get to meet new people, which opens my world up a little more each time. And I’m now prioritising fun a little more. Not to the detriment of my work of course, in fact quite the opposite as I love what I do. I’ve managed to incorporate the things I am interested in and enjoy doing into what I do for a living and have found that it actually enhances my work. I’m more excited about things now and more curious. I’m more creative and motivated. And a bit braver! But that’s me and you’re you, and you will want and need different things. Only you will know what those things are. I’d encourage you to explore them and not be afraid of trying new ways of doing things-see what makes a difference to you and do more of that!
What else could you do?
- Set healthy boundaries.
- Be mindful of your inner voice.
- Be kind to yourself and remember that you are a priority and that you’re doing your best.
- Always make time for fun! When you’re doing more of the things you love, everything else will seem so much more achievable.
I’m mindful now to spend each day being more aware of how I’m feeling, and considering what I need. That doesn’t mean that I don’t still get tired sometimes, start to procrastinate or tell myself that I could be doing more or doing things better. But now I have the tools to help myself to choose to think another way and to do things differently. When we prioritise ourselves a little more it means that we’re better placed to cope with everything that’s going on and to enjoy every day a little more. As a result we’re more able to support those around us too, whether that is in our role of partner, parent, child, colleague, friend, leader, etc.
Living by the expectations that are put upon us by ourselves and by others can often be overwhelming. Give yourself permission to rest sometimes and to reflect. Work to your strengths and celebrate your wins, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant-they’re all worth celebrating. Remember how amazing you are. And keep reminding yourself!
Thank you for taking the time to read this. I hope it’s been helpful. If you’d like to speak to me about how I might be able to help you, as an individual or in your business with regards to personal or professional development, wellbeing or the photography services I offer please don’t hesitate to contact me. I’d be very happy to hear from you.
Karen
Tel: 07941 167 285
Email: contact@karenwcoaching.com
Website: KarenWCoaching.com
