What is self-care, and why is it so important? Self-care is a fairly broad term that encompasses just about anything you do to be good to yourself. In a nutshell, it’s about being as kind to yourself as you would be to others. It’s partly about knowing when your resources are running low, and stepping back to replenish them rather than letting them all drain away.

It also involves integrating self-compassion into your life in a way that helps to prevent even the possibility of a burnout. Practicing self-care means working to eliminate as many triggers of stress as possible. This does not mean that you are prioritizing yourself over anything or anyone else, it simply means you are relaxing and recovering in order to perform at the best of your ability when needed. It is very self-defeating, if not impossible, to try to care only for others at the expense of yourself. Self-care comes in many different forms, from taking a small stretch break at work to practicing guided meditation at home.

Practicing self-care promotes a healthy relationship with yourself  to the benefit of your physical, mental, and emotional health. When you are unable to care for yourself, it is nearly impossible to care for others. Therefore, self-care allows you to establish a positive mindset that will translate to good feelings and emotions for others around you. By making the time to let yourself recharge, you will improve the outlook of yourself and others as well as develop significantly lower unhealthy amounts of stress.