For our mental health and well-being, there are many valid reasons why making time for yourself is important, not selfish.
Nowadays, it’s easy to get bogged down with being so busy with work, university, or whatever takes up most of your time that we often forget about taking care of ourselves.
In the same instance, when you do get a free moment, we often feel the need to spend this time making up lost time with our friends and family.
However, we often forget to spend time taking care of ourselves. Self-care days are so important and not remotely selfish, and here are five valid reasons why.
1. Health
Whether you’re working or studying, making time for yourself is so important because it allows the brain to unwind.
The more you work your brain without rest, which could be having enough sleep or merely removing yourself from the situation at hand to relax, the more your brain will literally break down, making mental health issues more possible long term.
Taking time for yourself, figuring out your next move and thinking properly about what you want can lead to less stress and an overall better quality of life.
If we make decisions on an over-tired, overworked brain, it probably won’t have the outcome you actually desire. So, for your health, make time for yourself and do what you want to do.
For example, if you don’t have a dental expert that you regularly visit, you should start looking for a dentist in Marlborough or one near you so they can check the situation of your dental health. The same can be said if you don’t have a physician yet.
2. Finding yourself
When you are constantly spending your time with other people and never really having time on your own, it is inevitable that you will be more impressionable or influenced by the values and morals of other people.
Let’s say, for example, you’ve decided to take a long trip with friends. It’s perfectly alright not to have to be together at all times, 24 hours of the day.
If you decide to take yourself off for the day, explore the city on your own, meet new people and have your own experiences, you will find yourself in a way you just can’t do with other forces around.
Plus, taking this time for yourself isn’t selfish; it’s essential.
3. Creativity
Making the decision to take time away from everything else and spend time on your own can spark creativity.
When you have no plan for the day or no structured check list of things you need to get done, your mind is allowed to wander and ponder new ideas and prospects.
Think of some of the greatest artists and authors, Hemingway, Georgia O’Keeffe, Thoreau; some of their best and most masterful work was created when they chose a bit of solitude.
If you want to enhance your creativity and enrich your life that little bit more, take the time you need for yourself without any feelings of remorse or selfishness.
4. Resolve problems
While your working yourself to the bone and never creating any time for yourself, it might be because you have some unresolved problems that you are trying to ignore or simply don’t have the time to think about.
If this is the case, whatever is weighing on your mind has the power to physically and emotionally drain you if you don’t get the chance to address the problem.
Plus, it may only be a minor problem, but not addressing it will cause it to grow and grow and feel much more significant and pressing than it really is.
By taking some time away for yourself, you will allow yourself the time necessary to address everything so that you can move forward and unburden yourself.
Plus, time alone will allow you to think rationally and reasonably about whatever it is that is bothering you.
5. Build relationships
When you are constantly busy, you don’t really get the time to think about what things are most important in your life.
For example, when you take some time for yourself, you get to really think about the things that impact your life the most and if they bring positivity to your life.
This is equally as important with personal relationships. Sometimes in life, we neglect the relationships we really care about simply because we don’t have the time to nourish them.
Equally, sometimes when you are rightfully taking time for yourself, you recognise the relationships that might no longer be serving you, and that is completely your prerogative.
By remembering these five reasons why making time for yourself is important, not selfish, you allow yourself to be healthy, happy, and moving forward at peace.
