Prioritising self-care
As we celebrate Women’s Month this August, take time to celebrate the diverse, brilliant women in your community and across this nation who keep everything going at home and work, within community organisations and faith institutions, and in every aspect of life.
During this month, it’s so important to make sure that women take good care of their minds, bodies and souls every day, not just when they become get sick.
Learning how to eat right, reduce stress, exercise regularly, and taking time out when you need it are touchstones of self-care and can help you stay healthy, happy, and resilient.
According to Psychology Today, practising self-care isn’t always easy. Most of us are crazy busy and have stressful jobs or we are too consumed with technology to make time for ourselves. Me-time is usually last on the agenda. Worse, we can sometimes feel guilty about taking the time required to take care of ourselves. So getting started with self-care can be challenging.
Neglecting your personal needs can cause you to suffer from deterioration in wellness and self-love. For example, you may notice increases in anxiety, distractibility, anger and fatigue. You may also experience decreases in sleep, relationship satisfaction, self-esteem, empathy, and compassion.
Ongoing exposure to stress without proper self-care can put you at risk for serious consequences such as depression and heart disease.
Celebrate the women in your life and encourage them to prioritise their mental health.
Here are a few areas they can start looking at to prioritise their mental and physical well-being.
Dates to Remember
9 August – National Women’s Day
19 August – World Humanitarian Day
