How to Prioritize Self-Care (Even If You’re Too Busy)

Self-care should never be an afterthought, even though modern life offers plenty of excuses to let it fall down our list of priorities. When life gets busy, it’s even more important to prioritize self-care. Holistic life coach and new TCM contributor, Maytal Phillips, shares how self-care isn’t a waste of time, but rather a way to become a more productive, present human being. Find out how this working mom makes room for some much-needed self-love…

If you’re like me, you’re obsessed with everything in the holistic/self-improvement/health and wellness space. Self-care has recently become a hot topic discussed as living a better life, being more productive, and/or feeling less stressed. Self-care is defined as the practice of taking an active role in protecting one’s own well-being and happiness, especially during times of stress.

Yet it becomes optional between work, family care, and other priorities. Everyone talks about the importance of taking care of yourself, but the difficulty is real when it comes to actually taking care of yourself. Here’s why we avoid taking care of ourselves and why prioritizing self-care is essential for our well-being…

What gets in the way of self-care?

The main reasons we avoid taking care of ourselves start with these all-too-familiar words: I do not have timewhat ends up being it’s not a priority. And the truth is that as a mother, an entrepreneur or both, you are busy beyond words and the idea of ​​adding one more thing to the day is inconceivable.

Let’s tackle the subject of time – what I call the vicious phenomenon of the time circle. We start our day in a certain mental space, which we may not be aware of, but which probably looks like I have so much to do and I have no idea how it’s going to get done or my all time favorite I hope I get through it today. We are exhausted and can’t see through what needs to be done, and this is the lens with which we view the world and colors our actions of the day. As a result, we are not present, we take twice as long to complete tasks, we feel guilty and this leads to even more exhaustion. It’s a self-perpetuating limiting belief… I’m not good enough – and the one that prevents us from growing and developing and, ultimately, living a life that functions.

Why is it important to prioritize self-care?

What if we injected a little self-care into the day? Taking even the smallest amount of time for yourself will break the vicious cycle of time and provide the space needed to rejuvenate, recharge, and then get back to what needs to be done. When your mind has space, your physical body has the opportunity to regenerate. Similar to meditation, your brain also needs a break.

A part of the brain is called the prefrontal cortex (PFC), which is the thinking part. When you do work that requires concentration, this part of your brain helps you stay focused on your goals. The PFC is also responsible for logical thinking, executive functioning, and using willpower to overcome impulses, which is a lot for one part of the brain to take on. Working for long periods of time without a break leads to stress and exhaustion. Taking breaks refreshes the mind, replenishes mental resources and aids creativity. This, in turn, allows you to be more present during work and caring for children.

What can we do to prioritize self-care?

Allow yourself even just ten minutes a day to read, get a manicure, do a digital detox, meditate or whatever you need to help break the perpetuation of the vicious cycle of time. The feeling of guilt and shame for not getting everything done takes up mental space and prevents you from being present and productive. Taking care of yourself shatters the self-imposed myth that you’re not enough, and on a physical level, it gives your brain time to reset. It’s not a waste of time: taking care of yourself saves time.

Keep in mind that self-care requires us to create and adopt a habit that is not only unfamiliar to many of us, but seems to be at odds with the societal pressures of being a boss badass. The reality is, however, that self-care is both badass and essential to being your own amazing boss.