How do you want to be remembered when you’re gone? Is the pursuit of material wealth worth the strained relationships that you have left?
Assignment Question
Answer the questions below using your own words and also rewrite the paper. Your answers to these questions should determine your approach to living.
Adulthood is overrated. A great many people utter this statement out of frustration, and it’s not surprising. Being an adult sometimes comes with overwhelming responsibilities. There are targets to meet at work and a lot of work to do at home. When you factor in social activities and other engagements, you will relish the opportunity to trade places with that baby with nothing to worry about. But we all know that’s next to impossible. The only way to be at peace with yourself is by embracing numerous responsibilities and focusing on what is essential.
What is self-care?
Self-care is a general term that describes everything you do deliberately for your mental, physical, and emotional well-being. As simple as it sounds, many of us pay little attention to self-care. This is why ‘deliberately’ is one of the most essential words in the definition. You need to be conscious of your well-being before achieving proper self-care. It starts from simple acts like not checking emails at night when you know it affects your sleep and extends to more important decisions like going on a vacation or booking a massage when you feel you need one. Why is it important?
Self-care encourages you to maintain a healthy relationship with yourself to transmit good feelings to others. You cannot give to others what you don’t have yourself. While some may misconstrue self-care as selfish, it’s far from that. When you pay adequate attention to your well-being, you’re not considering your needs alone. You’re reinvigorating yourself to be the best version of yourself for the people around you. Everyone around you also benefits from the renewed energy and joy you exhibit. Physical health is a core part of self-care. The body and the mind have a unique connection, and it isn’t easy to be in high spirits when you are not feeling good about your body. Research has shown that regular exercise increases the level of serotonin in our body, significantly improving mood and energy. When exercising for self-care, you should choose an activity you love. It could be a regular run, brisk walking, swimming, or anything else that makes you feel alive. You derive extra fulfillment from doing what you love, and it is the love that encourages persistence even when it seems you do not have time for it. Too many people are sleep-deprived, and it takes a toll on our physical and mental health. We seem to have made the maxim ‘hard work pays’ too serious. We now spend so much time working and very little time sleeping. Sleep scientists recommend that adults need at least 6-8 hours of sleep every night. Your body needs time to rest and renew. Daytime naps are also excellent for refreshing our bodies and improving concentration levels. Your diet is a significant part of self-care, an aspect you should be wary about. When you ask people about foods that make them feel good, you get answers like a juicy steak, mounds of lasagna, or incredibly delicious cupcakes. However, consistently indulging in these delicacies is NOT self-care. Healthy, nutritious foods are one of nature’s best gifts to us. Make a habit of consuming good foods that build your body. This may seem easy, but it can be challenging to practice. It would be best to ask yourself tough questions to identify the things that matter most to you. When the chips are down, who do you want to be with? How do you want to be remembered when you’re gone? Is the pursuit of material wealth worth the strained relationships that you have left?
Your answers to these questions should determine your approach to living. Spend more time with those you would love to be with and deliberately live your life how you want to. Keeping an eye on your priorities will help you decide how you spend your time. Too often, we focus on the negatives while showing little appreciation for the beauty around us. It’s what happens when you have a bad breakup; all you can remember is how badly the person hurt you. We tend to forget all the fantastic things that the relationship brought us. Cherish the good memories and hold them dear, even if the unpleasant ones attempt to consume you. Show gratitude and appreciation for the little gifts in life. Take time to be still and meditate more. If you can adopt a gratitude mindset, you are on your way to achieving the highest level of self-care. Too often, you say yes to every request to avoid hurting the feelings of another party. When you do this at the expense of your own peace or health, you go against self-care principles. It’s good to realize you’re only human, and you can’t possibly make everyone happy. Saying yes to everything predisposes you to burnout, and it’s terrible for your physical and emotional health. So, what learned is simple: keep things simple, keep your goals and things you want to accomplish in sight. Don’t take life too seriously. Find time for humor and laughter. Make sure the people who are important to you know that, and more importantly, take time for yourself because without a great relationship with yourself, what do you truly have?
