Self-care isn’t selfish, it needs to be prioritized

Why does being selfish get a bad rap? I think we all need to be a bit more selfish, especially when it comes to self-care. I’m pretty sure it’s safe to say that we could all spend a little more time taking care of ourselves in one way or another. It’s important that we take time for ourselves. We have to show up for ourselves if we want to show up for others.

You can’t fill another cup from an empty one. The first thing they tell you on a plane is you have to put your mask on first before you can help put someone else’s on. We need to be filling our cups so we can help others fill theirs and then let it overflow. That’s when selfishness becomes selflessness.

So much of life is focused on everything else outside of ourselves. No wonder so many of us experience burnout. Our tanks are empty and we’re not filling them back up.

It’s okay to be selfish in order to take care of yourself and meet your own needs. No one can fully satisfy those needs but you. It’s time we start putting ourselves first so that we can show up for others in a way that we never could before.

Here are some ways that I am selfish about my self-care:

• Doing things that bring me joy
  • going to concerts
  • spending time with friends
  • camping
• Physically taking care of my body
  • yoga is my favorite
  • hikes are pretty great, too
• Nourishing my body with comforting foods
  • soup can be warm, comforting, and nourishing
  • I don’t think I could live without pasta either 🍝
• Pampering myself
  • painting my nails
  • putting on a face mask
  • taking a long, hot bath
  • giving myself a foot massage
• Doing things for my inner child
  • creating art
  • doing puzzles
  • spending time with my niece and nephew
  • being silly
  • singing songs
  • dancing

These are some of the things that fill my cup. When I do these things for myself I feel restored and I know that I am in a better place to show up for others.

What are some ways that you’re selfish about your self-care? If you find you’re not taking as much time for yourself as you’d like, I encourage you to try and see how you feel after. You might be pleasantly surprised 😉