So many people are struggling with stress at this time.  From issues at work and relationship problems, to concerns about bills and finances, it’s a rough time.  If you have issues that you are struggling with, make sure that you are taking care of yourself.  Make sure that you are getting good sleep, and eating healthy.  Make sure that you are getting some exercise to help clear your mind, and working on stress management skills to help get you through a difficult time.  Take care of yourself during a difficult time, to make sure that when things are better, you can enjoy it.

                We have talked about self-care before, but let’s talk again about why self-care is important.  So many issues can come from poor self-care and stress, including medical issues, depression, anxiety, and even relationship problems.  So many times I talk with people about managing stress, especially when someone’s stress is so high that they become physically sick.   Medical issues can include headaches, stomach issues, and getting sick easily, so self-care and managing stress should also be preventive.   Taking even 5 minutes a day to stretch, use some mindfulness, or even close your eyes and clear your mind, can be so helpful.

                As you think about your self-care, do you make self-care important year around?  Self-care can help people all the time, whether stressed or doing well.  That’s why self-care is important, whether you are in a stressful situation or not.  We are encouraged to exercise by our medical professionals, but they rarely talk about self-care.  I’m a firm believer in prevention when it comes to health, and self-care can go a long way to keeping us stable and happy in our lives.  When you work on your plan, make sure you are taking care of yourself every day.

                Many people think about self-care too late.  When you are stressed and overwhelmed, it’s really late in the game to recover quickly.  Someone who uses self-care on a regular basis can recover from a stressful event quickly, but I believe that someone who is trying self-care in the middle of a crisis takes longer to recover and feel better.  That’s why prevention is so important.  As you work on your plan for self-care, make sure it’s something you can do daily and long term.  Don’t set yourself up for failure by trying to do too much and then not doing anything at all.

                In the end, remember that you are important.  You deserve to take care of yourself, especially if you care for others, like children or other family members.   Find things you can do quickly, when you only have 5 minutes, or other things that can take longer when you have the time.  Prioritize yourself, and schedule time for you, because if you don’t everything can become too much.  You wear many hats in your life, and sometimes, it can all wait for you to take a moment.  It will be there when you return to the pressures, but if you take a moment to make sure that you are okay, and ready, it can make it so much easier.  It’s all part of being happy, for life.