Hustle, grind, win, achieve…there are so many buzz words that focus on productivity these days.  It is a trend in our society to do everything, give everything, and risk everything just to get ahead and be “successful.”  But what does success mean? If we accomplish all of our material and business goals but neglect our health and well-being, are we truly living a successful life?

How important to you is nourishing your body and self?  Look at the things you have on your to-do list for the next 5 days.  How many of those things incorporate self-care practices?  How much do you prioritize loving and caring for your holistic health: body, emotions, mind, and spirit?  Have you placed “productivity” above quality time with your body and self?  Do you think that postponing relaxation and self-care will help you get ahead and achieve more in life?  I’d venture to say that it won’t, and here is why:

Neglecting the care of body and self will cause a gradual deficit in every area of your life.  The more deficient you become in your body, mind, emotions, and spirit, the less equipped you are to be competent in any role you take on.  The less competent you are in your roles and responsibilities, the less likely you will achieve your life goals successfully.

Self-care comes in many forms and can look different for each person.  When you deliberately prioritize your well-being, you practice self-care.  Prioritizing self-care is an act of radical self-love.  One of the most powerful things about love is that it HEALS!  By making self-care a habit, you embrace true self-love and can bring healing into every area of your life.  Although the benefits are numerous, here are a few examples that may inspire you to begin practicing self-care now:

STRESS

Taking the time to practice self-care consistently can help reduce stress levels in your life.  Whether you choose movement, rest, or even pursuing a hobby as a form of self-care, it can help you to release stress.  Stress is a major cause of several health issues in your body and mind.  Reducing stress levels can help heal or even prevent many of those issues.

FOOD RELATIONSHIP

Often, we are at war with food because we do not honor it as a way to nourish our bodies.  Sometimes a disordered relationship with food can be a manifestation of neglected self-care.  The body is designed to communicate through signals; when we neglect or misread those signals, we can assume that food is our solution.  Sometimes, our body signals mean we need sleep, water, vitamins, or even connection with others.  When we take the time to love and care for our bodies, we become more in tune with the signals and learn what our true needs are.  We can embrace a harmonious relationship with food and use it as a tool to better our well-being rather than a substitute for our real needs.

INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS

I’m not just talking sex (although that improves too).  When you are taking better care of yourself and prioritizing your own health and well-being, you will be a happier person overall.  Although it feels selfish to put your self-care at the top of your to-do list, the truth is that you will be a better partner, parent, friend, etc., for those you love when you feel loved yourself.  We cannot make our happiness and life satisfaction the responsibility of our loved ones and think that it will make for healthy intimate relationships. That expectation of others will simply incite resentment. We are responsible for the love and care of ourselves first so that we can be equipped to love others well.  If each person in the relationship practices this, everyone will receive the healthy, well-balanced version of the love they deserve.

PRODUCTIVITY

Productivity is not a “bad” thing in itself.  It becomes harmful when you obsess over it.  It can be unhealthy when you put your wellness and self-love to the side to be productive.  I invite you to consider the possibility that taking the time to care for yourself can be a form of productivity.  When you are investing in your well-being, you are ensuring that you are producing a better version of yourself.  Time invested in loving and caring for you is never time wasted.  The more you work on self-development, you will ensure that your success will also show up in other areas of your work.  Your creativity will be sparked, your clarity will increase, and your endurance will be extended.  Whatever you put your hands to will be done with more positive energy and assurance.  That will assuredly lead to more accomplishments in your life.

BODY IMAGE

You know I had to save the best (or my favorite at least) for last. Yes, your body image can be affected by how much you invest in self-care.  Remember that self-care is an act of self-love.  When we practice self-love, it impacts the way we see ourselves and feel about our bodies.  The more we invest time in caring for and loving our bodies and selves, the more healing we will experience in our body relationship.  To make peace with the image you see in the mirror and the body you inhabit daily, you must prioritize caring for it.  Clear space in your life to build a loving relationship with you!  Confidence, self-esteem, and boldness will become more familiar and less foreign.  The more you put INTO your body relationship, the more you will get out of it.