06 Jan Self-care may be increasing your stress—here are 5 things to consider
Everyone’s different.
And so self-care will be different for different people.
You may well be doing all the right things, and as such, enjoy health and wellbeing and happiness but … if you’re self-care routine is causing more stress than doing good then check out these ideas via FastCompany by Tracy Brower
The beginning of a new year is often incredibly stressful. Finishing projects, getting through holiday activities, and planning for what’s ahead may feel overwhelming. Too much pressure and not enough time to get it all done can create a sense of time poverty. And this year, the usual rigmarole is happening against a backdrop of layoffs and economic challenges.
As stress increases, calls for self-care do as well. What you need, according to some self-care narratives, is a lovely bath or a walk in the woods. With enough time for yourself, all will be well. But traditional definitions of self-care aren’t enough, and bath bombs alone won’t solve burnout. In fact, the call for self-care can create additional pressure and become a source of negativity.
Fortunately, there are alternatives. Here’s how you can redefine self-care so that it actually enhances your life:
STRESSED-OUT NATION
If you’re stressed out, you are not alone.
According to a study by Clarify Capital, 45% of people feel stressed, 36% feel scared or depressed, and 25% feel demotivated. And according to a study by Muse, between 38% and 44% of people feel overworked, burned out, unappreciated, lack satisfaction, or lack joy.
Younger generations are especially impacted by these negative feelings. Research by Cigna suggests that 84% of all employees are stressed, but among workers between the ages of 18 and 24, 91% are stressed, 98% are burned out, and 71% are more overwhelmed than usual.
REINVENTING SELF-CARE
Unfortunately, self-care may not be the panacea that’s promised.
Self-care alone isn’t enough because it doesn’t help reduce the factors that cause stress. What’s more, some self-care advice can be its own source of stress when it requires you to add to your list of things to do. Now, while getting the end-of-the-year report done and buying gifts, you also need to take time for a massage.
The emphasis on self-care often can be tone deaf: failing to recognize the lack of control people have over their schedules. Some self-care narratives blame people who are busy. If you would just manage yourself better, the mantra goes, you wouldn’t be so stressed.
But life ebbs and flows. During some periods, you may have plenty of time for a lovely stroll through the park; yet, during other times, you just may need to buckle down and get things done in order to feel more in charge of your day. By realizing this, and by giving yourself permission to be busy during demanding times, you can actually address and reduce the pressures in your life.
Some may define self-care as time for yourself and appointments for pampering. But at its core, true self-care is considering what you need, what energizes you, and how you can expand your well-being physically, emotionally, and cognitively. Based on this definition, it’s possible to reimagine self-care with new considerations for how it can truly nurture, rather than detract from, your experience.
Here are several things to consider when defining what self-care means to you …
… keep reading the full & original article HERE