Can you believe it’s already September? School has started, Starbucks is serving everything ‘pumpkin spice’, and the holidays are right around the corner.
Not only is it Self-Care Awareness Month, but it is also the perfect time to remind ourselves that taking care of ourselves, first and foremost, is essential. Self-care is often neglected in our everyday lives. We tend to put others needs before our own, and it is crucial to remember, that we cannot fill another’s cup from our own empty vessel.
What is Self-care?
Self-care is a broad term that encompasses just about anything you do to be good to yourself. It’s about being as kind to yourself as you would be to others. It’s also about knowing when you’re feeling burnt out, stressed or anxious, and need to step back to refill your cup.
Self-care is not an option! Now, more than ever, we need to find ways to take care of ourselves…mind, spirit and body.
The History of Self-care
Did you know that the ancient Greeks are historically known for practicing self-care? The Greek word for self care is “philautia” which translates most closely to ‘self love’ or ‘love of self.’
The ancient Greeks believed that when philautia was practiced appropriately (in a respectful, balanced way), it provided the foundation upon which all other love could be built. They believed that self-care was a way to make people more honest citizens who would care for others.
The more you love yourself, the more you could love others. As Aristotle put it:
All friendly feelings for others are an extension of man’s feelings for himself.
The Positive Benefits of Self-care
According to WebMD, self-care tends to:
- improve our immunity
- increase positive thinking
- make us less susceptible to stress, depression, anxiety and other emotional health issues.
Feeling well-cared for leads to feelings of calm and relaxation, and conveys to others that we value ourselves which contributes to long-term feelings of well-being and fulfillment.
Practicing self-care not only allows us to help ourselves, but to help others as well.
A great analogy is when you ride on an airplane and they give you emergency instructions, they always tell you to put the mask on yourself first, and then your child….Dr. Van Tassell’s (Turnure Medical Group) brother-in-law, Gordon was on a plane to Arizona a few years back and the plane lost its wing and started going down. He saw in the “real world” what happens with this as he tried to put a mask on the child sitting next to him before his own and almost fainted doing so….
Get Started Making Self-care a Part of Your Life
Use this month to make self-care a part of your daily routine – practice being good to yourself. It can be as simple as a conscious breath in the morning or as luxurious as time away from the pressures of everyday life.
At La Bella Vita Medispa, we have many non-invasive cosmetic treatments that you and your skin will LOVE! Think Botox, fillers, laser skin treatments, and more.
Also, there is no better time than now to make sure you’ve scheduled your annual physical and flu shot! Contact Turnure Medical Group at (916) 624-3500 to schedule yours today! We are here to help YOU take extra good CARE of YOURSELF!
Let’s focus on ourselves and have an awesome month regardless of what is thrown at us!
