There are a variety of reasons for which people require self-care. Unmanageable work schedules, stressful relationships and deep-rooted mental health issues are just a few of the things that bring about the need to effectively care for oneself. However, if you have a tendency to neglect your own wants and needs, administering self-care is liable to seem like an alien concept. Fortunately, as you’ll find, providing yourself with the TLC you deserve is much easier that you may think.

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Allow Yourself to Take Breaks 
It isn’t difficult to see why work addiction is such a prevalent problem in the U.S. Between employers regularly saddling their employees with enormous workloads and overwork being regarded as something to be lauded, there’s little wonder as to why so many members of the workforce are hesitant to give themselves a break. Even when they’re off the clock, a fair number of workers regard their leisure hours as an unpaid extension of the workday. 

When living in a culture that lauds overwork, taking breaks is liable to strike you as an unattractive prospect. After all, if you’re not constantly working, it’s possible your employer will take notice and potentially even reprimand you. Still, allowing your entire life to be dictated by the demands of your job can wear you down both physically and emotionally. While it’s generally accepted that people are expected to work in order to earn a living, no job should take precedence over your health. 

With this mind, make an effort to set healthy boundaries at work and take regular breaks. For example, instead of regarding workdays as open-ended affairs, you should begin and end each workday at a set time. Furthermore, no matter what you happen to be working on, the workday should officially end once you leave your place of business. Your off-hours are meant for relaxing and recharging your batteries, not devoting even more of your time to work. 

Set Boundaries 
Setting boundaries will serve you well in both your personal and professional lives. For example, if you have any coworkers who constantly shrug off their respective duties and task you with completing them, make it clear that your work is yours to do and their work is theirs to do. While there’s nothing wrong with lending the occasional helping hand, people shouldn’t be allowed to take advantage of your good nature and walk all over you. 

Learning how to say no can also prove beneficial to non-work-based relationships. If you have any friends or family members who habitually impose upon you for favors while showing no concern for your personal wants and needs, don’t be afraid to start refusing their requests. All relationships are a two-way street, and if one party has no absolutely no regard for the other’s feelings, there’s no sense in continuing to put forth your time and effort. 

Of course, this isn’t to say that helping people is bad. Getting involved in charity work, for instance, can facilitate positive change in the lives of others and bring you immense personal satisfaction. If your schedule is too packed for hands-on charity work, consider donating to your favorite causes and supporting companies that are passionate about charity, like SPB Hospitality.    

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Treat Yourself 
People who regularly neglect their own needs often have difficulty doing nice things for themselves. However, showing yourself the same level of compassion and respect that you show others is essential to sound mental health and high self-esteem. With this in mind, make a point of carving out time for yourself on a daily basis. Devoting just one hour a day to self-care can prove highly conducive to stress relief and relaxation. Taking the time to engage in activities you enjoy and being open to buying gifts for yourself are among the foremost cornerstones of effective self-care.
 
Not even all the outside help in the world will do you much good if you treat yourself poorly. In order to maintain sound mental health and prevent ourselves from being overtaken by stress, we need to practice self-care on a consistent basis. However, if you’ve grown accustomed to regarding your own needs as unimportant, administering self-care is liable to take some adjustment. Anyone looking to step up their self-care game and set the stage for decreased stress levels would do well to heed the tips discussed above.