Why is it that taking time to care for oneself is
so often considered to be a selfish act?
Probably because this is what we typically imagine.
However, what most of us need is just a moment to pause and take a breath.
Every aspect of our life—the physical, spiritual,
intellectual, and social—influences our well being.
Self-care is not self-indulgence,
and taking time to prioritize self-care doesn’t require you to completely
overhaul every aspect of your life. To improve your physical life,
you don’t have to go big or go home by purchasing a lifetime gym membership
or bringing the gym home with you.
Or having to clear out any trace of sugar in your house. That just isn’t
a sustainable plan. Doing so creates a lot of stress
and pressure to be perfect,
followed by a truckload of guilt
and shame when perfection is not obtained.
You can increase your well-being by doing tiny things that can help you
become your best self. You can improve your physical well-being by doing
simple things, like making a fresh meal that brings back memories
and sharing it with friends,
or spending uninterrupted time with the people you love.
You don't have to change careers, relocate to a foreign land,
or write a book to improve your intellectual well-being.
You can simply nurture your favorite hobby
or teach someone else something you've learned in your own studies and so
on, with the spiritual, social, and other aspects of our lives.
You might be feeling, “Yeah, that sounds nice, but I just don’t have time.”
Our responsibilities and obligations at work and school, at home,
in our church and community can leave us feeling drained and overwhelmed.
But contrary to popular belief, it is possible to feel refreshed, energetic,
secure, and healthy, even when life is at its busiest.
It's possible when you prioritize self-care
and do your best to stay balanced, and it is okay to prioritize self-care.
It doesn’t make you a bad mom if you take a nap, a bad citizen
if you turn down a civic engagement to spend time with family, or
a bad employee if you don't check your email on vacation.
Caring for yourself can help you increase your capacity to engage in
some of the most rewarding parts of life, such as developing talents,
honoring friendships, and helping others.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained,
“Jesus certainly experienced fatigue, felt the drain on His strength.
He gave and gave, but there was a cost attached to that,
and He felt the effects of so many relying on Him.
I have always been amazed that He could sleep through a storm on
the Sea of Galilee so serious
and severe that his experienced fisherman disciples thought
the ship was going down. How tired is that?
How many sermons can you give
and blessings can you administer without being absolutely exhausted?
The care givers have to have care too.”
One of the most sustainable ways to have care too, is to do simple,
enjoyable things for yourself. So go ahead. It's okay.
Give the physical, intellectual,
spiritual, and social aspects of your life
the attention they need to improve your well-being and create lasting joy.