What do the words self-care make you think of?
Spending the day at a spa.
Sipping coffee.
A beauty regime.
Taking time off.
Possibly, some hours binge-watching your favorite shows.
All of these could make you feel good and there is nothing wrong with indulging in such activities.
However, in today’s fast-paced life, self-care means a lot more than simply pampering yourself.
Many people find themselves lying next to their mobiles at night answering work-related messages, stressing about finances, handling household chores, comparing themselves through social media, and pretending that everything is fine even though they are emotionally tired.
And then they tell themselves:
“I only need a vacation.”
But what if you really do not need a vacation?
What if you simply need to be attentive to yourself?
The Problem with How We Understand Self-Care Today
Social media has made self-care something that frequently is visually pleasing.
Candles.
Journals.
Facial masks.
Coffee.
Meditation apps.
A peaceful morning.
All of these things can be a part of self-care.
However, self-care does not always have to be visually appealing. Sometimes, self-care
- looks like saying no.
- involves walking away from situations that continuously drain you.
- requires the courage to say, “I am not okay.”
- setting boundaries with those that you love.
- involves finally realizing why you put others before yourself.
A Client Who Thought She Needed a Break
One of the clients coming in for transformational coaching thought that all she needed was better time management.
She was working, looking after her family, always available to everyone, and continuously trying to meet the needs of others.
On the surface level, she seemed to be organized and successful.
However, on the emotional level, she was feeling tired.
She was sleeping, but waking up tired.
She was around people, yet, feeling lonely.
She had accomplished many things that she used to dream about, yet, was not able to enjoy them.
Her initial reaction was:
“I need a break.”
However, in her sessions with Coach Sangeeta, she started realizing something more than just the need for rest.
She realized that she not only needed a vacation, but also the realization of the reason why she kept neglecting herself all the time.
She had become so accustomed to being available to everyone else that prioritizing her needs made her feel guilty.
She had confused being needed with being valuable.
And she had confused being busy with being productive.
According to Life Coach Sangeeta, Self-Care Starts with Self-Awareness
According to “Genuine self-care,” says life coach Sangeeta Sharma, “involves recognizing what is going on inside you.”
It is more than asking:
“What can I do to feel good about myself today?”
It is about asking:
“What is causing me to feel this way in the first place?”
If you are always worried and stressed out, not paying attention to your stress isn’t going to help you get rid of the recurring pattern.
If you feel mentally exhausted because you never say no, a coffee break will not work wonders for you.
If you are unsatisfied with yourself because of living up to others’ expectations, a vacation won’t really help much either.
This is the reason why self-awareness is an important aspect of personal development.”
Real Self-Care Can Feel Uncomfortable
This is where all the talks end.
True self-care is not always peaceful.
At times, it means making tough choices.
This could mean having to refuse someone.
It could mean having to stop giving your reasons.
and sometimes, It could mean having to accept that the relationship is not good for you.
It could mean having to change something that you have been doing for years.
Also, It could mean having to face what you have been avoiding.
It could mean having to stop being the one that is always there.
It could mean disappointing others.
But taking care of yourself is not selfish.
Abandoning yourself just to please everyone is not self-care.
7 Signs You Need Deeper Self-Care
If you can identify yourself with most of these signs, your brain and emotions might require something beyond just a vacation.
| 1. You Always Feel Exhausted Regardless of Your Rest Your body is resting, but your brain never stops functioning. | 2. You Feel Guilty When Declining an Invitation You find yourself agreeing to things even if you don’t have the strength to do them just not to let other people down. |
| 3. You Overthink Too Much Your thoughts continue to replay conversations, decision-making, and future possibilities. | 4. You Always Put Others Before Yourself You know the requirements of all people surrounding you but can hardly recognize your own. |
| 5. You Are Mentally Dull It does not mean that you feel sad; you do not experience genuine joy too. | 6. You Are Saying That Everything Is Ok Even though you feel miserable from inside, you cannot bring yourself to talk about these feelings. |
| 7. You Are Obsessed with Doing Something Browsing, shopping, working, watching videos or any other activity is the way you distract yourself from thinking about your real feelings. This does not mean that you are weak. |
What Does Real Self-Care Look Like?
True self-care may turn out to be rather easy.
It can include sleeping well.
But it can also include cutting back on commitments.
It can involve going for a walk.
But it can also imply having a difficult conversation that has been postponed for a long time.
It can be meditation.
But it can also be about embracing emotions rather than pushing them away.
It can involve having a day off.
But it can also mean setting boundaries in order not to run away from your life now and then.
Self-care isn’t only about doing something for yourself but also about how you treat yourself every single day.
Self-Care, Mindset and Personal Transformation
Your connection with yourself has an effect on a multitude of aspects of your life.
In case you are always being critical about yourself, not listening to your emotions, or thinking that your value is based on being productive, even the most effective self-care practices will not make you experience any changes.
This is when mindset coaching and self-transformation coaching become helpful for you in digging deeper.
You are no longer just asking:
“How can I feel better?”
But, rather, asking questions such as:
“What beliefs, patterns, and emotions prevent me from changing?”
As explained by Best Life Coach in India – Coach Sangeeta, transformations take place when we stop being in the “automatic pilot mode” and try to be more aware of ourselves.
Her coaching approach to life transformation is focused on making people aware of themselves.
You Don’t Need Permission to Take Care of Yourself
Perhaps you have been waiting for the appropriate time.
After the project.
Also, after the kids have grown up.
Sometimes, after your career settles down.
After all, those around you are pleased.
But there will always be one more thing.
- obligation
- deadline
- individual that needs you
This is because self-care cannot be contingent upon having a wholly stress-free life.
You have to figure out how to take care of yourself within your real life.
You deserve relaxation before burning out and limits before building up resentment.
Also, you deserve emotional support before feeling overwhelmed.
And you deserve to ask yourself what you really desire, not only what everyone else desires from you.
Self-Care Is Coming Back to Yourself
Bubble baths are lovely.
A cup of coffee is soothing.
Vacation can be fantastic.
But self-care is more than that.
- Self-care is making a choice about yourself without feeling guilty.
- It is listening to your emotions.
- Protecting your energy.
- Establishing healthy boundaries.
- Giving yourself permission to rest.
- Knowing your patterns.
- Self-care is asking for help.
Most importantly, self-care is learning not to abandon yourself.
Sometimes you don’t need to get away from your life to find balance; sometimes you need to get back to yourself.
If you feel emotionally drained, trapped in overthinking, prioritizing others over yourself, or trying to figure out what you want from life, the Self Transformation Coach Sangeeta will help you uncover the deeper patterns behind these feelings.
Ready to Begin Your Self-Transformation Journey?
Don’t wait to get it all together before you even start.
Schedule a free strategy call with Self Transformation Coach Sangeeta and take your first step towards increased self-awareness, balanced emotions, mindset development, and alignment.
Because self-care is not about running away from who you are.
It’s about finally coming back to yourself.
FAQs – How to start self-care
Actual self-care means caring about your physical, emotional, and mental health, including rest, boundaries, self-awareness, healthy habits, and taking care of your needs.
Practicing proper self-care will help you cope with daily stresses and conserve your emotional energy, increase self-awareness.
Not at all! Self-care doesn’t mean that you forget about others. Practicing proper self-care will help you have enough energy and develop healthier relationships with yourself and other people.
Signs of lack of self-care include constant tiredness, overthinking, inability to say no, emotional numbness, irritability, guilt while resting, and putting others first always.
Self-awareness gives you the knowledge of what really makes you stressed or emotionally exhausted. In that way, you can deal with deeper reasons rather than seek superficial relief.
Yes, a life coach can facilitate your exploration of your personal patterns, limitations, goals, and boundaries, thus, help you increase self-awareness.
The areas of specialization for Coach Sangeeta include life transformation, mindset, emotional wellness, and self-awareness.
Whenever you feel that you get stuck and emotionally exhausted despite your efforts to change, you can benefit from self-transformation coaching.
