Self-care ISN'T SELFISH
Why you are the most important factor
Author: Hanna Swanepoel Our mentalities:
others first, I'm last, or never
I'm not worthy, too busy, and have no time for rest.
I need to please others and live up to others' expectations.
Many of us struggle with the concept of self-care because we tend to focus on other people's feelings, needs, and problems and take care of others first, often at our own expense.
Spending time with oneself enables you to identify problem areas and find solutions leaving you less vulnerable to psychic vampires.

Liz Clifton, Founder of Take 3 4 U, Calm Confidence Coach Crusader, Life Coach, NLP, Reiki, and Animal Reiki, gives her professional advice to create a calm and confident life. Finding a more efficient way to get results is the key to getting unstuck and regaining a life after burnout.

She explains that our emotions stack on top of each other as life unfolds; we experience all the negativities. For her, over forty years of stress, negativity, and a host of other emotions piled up and did her no good.
How do you move forward?

Learn the skills to be calm, confident, and move freely and effortlessly forward.

"The truth is that life gets busy, and we don't look after ourselves enough, but we all deserve to feel love and joy every day. You must look after yourself first to support both you and others to the best of your ability. Keep everything super simple'. - Liz, Clifton,

Tips to get you back on track

Breath - Breathing exercises are an excellent way to relax, reduce tension, and relieve stress.

Self-assess – on a scale of one to ten, how do you feel emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually? Your unconscious mind keeps you from moving forward, so when you feel stuck in the moment, it helps to move away from your current surroundings and into another.
Have you ever heard about putting an oxygen mask on yourself before helping others?

Start a journal - The benefits of journaling include helping you prioritise problems, fears, and concerns.

Trust your instinct - and how you feel at that moment, be yourself, be authentic.

Learn to say no - We will burn out over time if we always give out and never take anything back for ourselves.

By saying no, we can choose where to invest our time and energy. As a result, we can spend it on the people and parts of our lives that truly deserve it. This is when we'll start to flourish.
Focus on being in the now - focus on what you can control, your breathing, what you can see, smell, taste, and feel.

Don't dwell on the past - acknowledge that this is where you are now and let it go.

Celebrate your achievements - no matter how small. Go for a walk if it is safe to do so, and take time to enjoy the simple things like a good herbal tea/coffee, stretch, breath, laugh or sing.

No big decisions - It is difficult to do anything when overwhelmed or stressed, so try to focus on the present moment. Do not make big decisions if you feel out of sorts.

Self-sustain - Connect inwardly and check in regularly on how you feel; take time for self-care. Accept and acknowledge tiring emotions and let them go.

Move around - Reduces stress and releases endorphins, allowing us to disconnect from our daily responsibilities and challenges and facilitating the movement of emotions through our bodies.

Do something that gives you joy - Message a friend, go to the gym, take a walk, spend time with your pet or do something creative.

Stay hydrated - It is difficult to do anything when overwhelmed or stressed, so try to focus on the present moment.

Reward yourself - Our brain produces more dopamine when we receive rewards, which makes us feel happier, increases our memory retention, improves our sleep, and regulates our mood and appetite.
By taking care of ourselves first, we can ultimately provide care for others from an inner place of abundance, a feeling that we have already been taken care of. In turn, we become more giving as partners, family members, and friends.
'It's not selfish to take care of yourself and to make your happiness a priority. Its necessary' – Mandy Hale