What Self-care Really Means?

Have you ever wondered what self-care really means? In today’s fast-paced society, where corporate culture often glorifies overworking and burnout, it’s crucial to take a step back and prioritise your own well-being. 

Due largely to societal conditioning, many company cultures have become so accustomed to pushing staff well beyond sustainable limits, that wearing stress and fatigue has become valued as a badge of honour. Self-sacrificing behaviours have become justified because it is the norm. 

What is Self-Care?

Self-care is learning to listen to what you need, what your mind, body, and soul needs, and then to courageously prioritise these needs above all else.  It is about treating yourself with kindness.  It is about treating yourself at least as well as you would treat a good friend. If you will not care for yourself, how can you care for others?

Who Should Be Prioritising Self-Care and Why?

Most people think of abundance as a lot. In fact, abundance has nothing to do with quantity, but rather FLOW.  Hence an abundant economy is one where there is excellent flow.  

Everywhere you look, the health of a system is dependent on flow.  Take a water system, the circulation in your own body, an economy, a relationship, etc., they are all dependent on flow which is dependent on a complete circuit, which means giving and receiving.  

Why Is Self-Care Often Not a Priority? 

Why do most people prioritise everything else above their own well-being?  Because of fear.  

What if you let go of all of these fears and realised once and for all that, the outside world is not your source, but rather a channel, and that the source of everything is within you? Life doesn’t happen to us; it happens through us.  

If you act out of fear, all you do is create more evidence of what you fear.  Once you begin to realise this, then your only priority will be self-care, because it is out of this state that inspired action flows.  Action that flows from inspiration rather than fear and obligation produces exceptional and effortless results.  

How Does Corporate Culture Influence the Lack of Self-Care? 

Many people struggle with prioritising self-care because of a demanding work environment, or a belief in the company culture that self-care is selfish. A workplace that prioritises productivity over employee well-being, is extremely unhealthy. This often leads to a corporate culture of overworked, demoralised, and burnt-out employees. 

Self-Care and Stress

How are stress and self-care related? Stress is very often a result of a lack of self-care. When we neglect our own needs, we become more susceptible to stress and anxiety. This creates a never-ending cycle where we feel too overwhelmed to take care of ourselves, which in turn leads to more stress. To break free from this cycle, career coaching will teach you how to make self-care a priority.

State of Self 

Our state of mind plays a significant role in our wellbeing. When we neglect self-care, it’s easy to slip into a negative mindset about ourselves. We can feel demotivated, insecure, unworthy, and down on ourselves. This negatively affects our moods, our relationships, and our overall quality of life. Prioritising self-care can actually help to cultivate a more positive mindset, state of self, and improved mental health. 

Sleep and Self-Care

When we think of career and success, we often think ‘go, go, go!’ but modern business coaching teaches us that one of the most important aspects of self-care, and as a result, success, is actually sleep.

Getting enough restful sleep is directly connected to our well-being. When we are well-rested, we have more energy, better focus, and are generally in a better mood. It’s important to prioritise sleep, practice sleep hygiene, and create a bedtime routine that helps you wind down and prepare for rest. 

Breaking the Cycle of Not Prioritising Wellbeing

Firstly, we need to recognise the importance of self-care and the impact it has on our overall well-being, as well as build corporate cultures that work toward a priority on self-care. It’s okay to prioritise our own needs and take time for ourselves. This is very difficult for some people to do and is where career coaching can play an integral role. Many of us need to reframe our mindset around self-care.

Sterkla is an innovative coaching platform that specialises in providing tailored career coaching experiences for individuals and organisations. By combining the latest technology with the expertise of certified coaches, Sterkla fills the gap within work environments and helps people achieve their fullest potential.