Healthy self care is essential

by | Personal Reflection

Working at end of life is sometimes challenging, so it is essential for me to have regular and frequent healthy self-care time.

A picture of a letter board reading "Self care isn't selfish" against a peach background.
Flip your script on prioritising time for yourself – you ARE worth it!

Today I had the entire morning dedicated to catching up with a good friend I haven’t seen for a long time. We met at a lovely cafe inside a nursery, ate good food and talked – at a COVID-safe distance – and laughed a good deal. It was lovely, and I drove home feeling much better and more relaxed than I did when I woke up this morning.

Working 24/7 is not healthy or useful for any of us, and it is actually better for our productivity as well as our mental health when we schedule and plan for time away from work and simply for our own pleasure. Catch up with friends, read a good book, immerse yourself in a creative hobby, take a nap – the thing you do is not as important as the time you spend not doing work or stress.

Two women playing connect four, both women are in wheelchairs and laughing together
Love hanging out with pals and an oversize strategy game? Go for it! Healthy self care can look like a LOT of fun and be boisterous if that’s what you like and need.

Sometimes I refer to this as ‘healthy selfishness’. Saying no to some invitations in favour of doing something quietly by yourself to recharge your batteries is a good thing. Spending time with people you care about and enjoy (in real life or virtually, either way of connecting is fine) rather than pressing on and working a 15 hour day is a good thing. Go enjoy yourself and take time for you.