During this time of year when giving to others comes to the forefront of our minds, it’s very common to become so involved in the act of giving that we fail to give to ourselves. This is found to be true amongst men and women alike. If our loved ones are worthy of attention and care, aren’t we as well?
There are only so many hours in a day and since we are cannot create more time, we should certainly make the time to give to ourselves. Taking time for ourselves is not something we should feel guilty about. We are simply setting aside some part of our day or week that’s just for us to enjoy the things we like to do.
Let’s take a look at some of the benefits that we can experience when we carve out that much needed “me” time. More often than naught, we find that our lives will actually thrive when we make giving to ourselves a priority.
- Lower Stress Levels. When we overwork ourselves we increase our level of stress, leaving our mind and body in constant crisis mode. Unplugging from the world allows us the ability to catch our breath and really get in tune with how our body and mind are feeling.
- Enhanced Focus. Taking time for ourselves also gives us a much needed break from our daily responsibilities. We allow ourselves the right to be a human being not a human doing. This gives us a fresh outlook on life and better focus when we do dive back into our routines.
- Recharged Determination. Another benefit that happens once we start meeting our own needs is that we find new determination and renewed energy in our efforts to help those around us. We’ve all experienced what it’s like when our batteries run low. We find that the things which used to give us purpose and joy begin to feel pointless. This in turn has us feeling listless about life in general. Recharging our mind, body, and soul is not only important for us, but for the work we do in the world.