Self -care is an integral part of good mental health which acts as a platform for growth and development. Within our busy lives quite often it can be easy to forget its importance and this is where burnout can take place. Burnout is when we experience physical and emotional exhaustion. It can occur when you experience long-term stress, for example, working a stressful job. Common signs of burnout: Feeling tired or drained most of the time. Feeling helpless, trapped and/or defeated. Being aware and making sure self -care is part of your daily life style can support and allow us to make changes that serves us well. Here are areas within our life where caring is paramount :

Sleep
Good sleep improves your brain performance, mood, and health. It is where memories of the day get stored away. Not getting enough quality sleep regularly raises the risk of many diseases and disorders. As well as this your performance within a day can be compromised and you may not be at your best which affects your mood.

Healthy eating
Food provides the energy and nutrients you need to keep active throughout the day while ensuring that you remain healthy as you age. Having a balanced diet provides you with all the nutrients needed to perform and be at your best.

Exercise
Exercise enables you to stay present and focus on what you are doing in that moment preventing intrusive thoughts to overtake your day. It also provides your body with energy and develops strength and perseverance.

Mindful practice
Mindfulness practices is a powerful process which helps to ground us in the present moment and encourages no thinking. Our mind naturally likes to problem solve but within a day it’s important to have time where we are focused within the moment and no thinking is taking place. Quite often it is when we are dwelling about the past or thinking about future events where anxiety creeps in. Many people who practice mindfulness report an increased ability to relax, a greater enthusiasm for life and improved self-esteem.

Personal hygiene
Good personal hygiene is one of the best ways to protect yourself from getting infectious diseases. It also helps to support our self- esteem as when we make efforts with ourselves we instinctively feel better which increases confidence and self -esteem.

Make self - care a priority in your life and see how over time it positively affects all area of your life.