A little self-care goes a long way. And if you don't prioritize it, it'll eat away at your well-being.
But how does a perfectionist prioritize self-care when everything in her life is going on at once? What do you do when you have a job you love, but you also want to be a great mom? How do you decide when to take time for yourself?
In this post, I'll go through various strategies for prioritizing self-care so you can enjoy being busy as well as being productive. And let me just say that I'm not advocating for anyone to take time off work. This is for those of you who are fully dedicated to your career and feel the need to prioritize some self-care.
STEP 1: Make the Decisions You Can Control
If there is something you can't control (such as work getting in the way of your self-care), then let it go. There's no use in trying to force something. The reality is that you're not going to be able to spend all of your time taking care of yourself if it doesn't fit into your schedule. Instead, focus on finding a balance between work and your self-care.
Sometimes this is easier said than done, but if you find yourself saying things like "I'm just too busy to do X", you know you're setting yourself up for failure. So stop saying it and start doing it.
STEP 2: Create Healthy Boundaries
Boundaries are a big part of self-care. It's okay to tell someone "no" if you don't want to do something. But it's also important to let yourself get away from work once in a while.
It's easy to fall into the trap of working every day. But there's nothing wrong with leaving the office to take a walk, call your friend, or go to happy hour with your co-workers. Do what works for you and stick to it.
Boundaries can be hard to come by at first, but as you become more aware of your own boundaries, you'll naturally be able to protect yourself. That's why it's so important to set healthy boundaries at the beginning.
STEP 3: Don't Over-Schedule
There are many things you can do to over-schedule yourself. If you have a deadline coming up, you may feel the pressure to get everything done ahead of time. But this doesn't mean you should put in longer hours.
There are certain days where we have to work extra hard, but that doesn't mean you have to stay longer than usual. If you can't get everything done on a Monday, don't worry about it. Put the hours back and plan for the week better.
This will also help you create a solid routine which will give you a sense of order when everything is hectic.
STEP 4: Accept Your Priorities
The biggest reason most of us are stressed out is because we don't accept our priorities. Everyone