Take a moment to think of the people in your life who are the most important to you. Who comes to mind—your children, your spouse, your family, your friends?
Now, think about the things you do for them every day. Perhaps you volunteer at your child’s school or cook dinner for your spouse several times a week—maybe you serve as your boss’s most dedicated assistant or give dejected friends a sympathetic shoulder to cry on. What are the little (and big) things you do for the people you care about every day?
And what do you do for yourself? Though you may have visited Dr. Jenny Liu to care for your body with medical weight loss, internal medicine or alternative medicine, it’s easy to forget to give yourself the attention you deserve, especially when you get caught up in caring for and meeting the needs of others.
Dr. Jenny Liu can help you overcome many different ailments, but if we don’t learn to care for ourselves properly, we may end up not being much use to anyone. We shouldn’t necessarily put our own needs first, but should at least see them as equal to those of others. Think about it: when you tell your children to go to sleep, fretting over them getting enough rest, do you even consider whether you yourself are getting the sleep you so sorely need?
In many studies, caregivers (for children, aging parents, relatives, etc.) have been shown to have a higher risk of heart disease and depression. The stress of caring for others can be exhausting, taking a progressive toll on our mental and physical health. If you feel harried by the demands of others, the answer is simple: you need a little “me” time!
- Make time. When the needs of our loved ones come first, we often tell ourselves we “don’t have time” to do things for ourselves. If you find yourself making this excuse, think of what might be impeding you. Are there responsibilities that you can ask another member of your household to attend to? Remember: you can’t (and shouldn’t try to) be responsible for absolutely everything that happens in your loved ones’ lives. If you can’t find the time, make the time by asking for help or eliminating less important activities from your schedule.
- Indulge your interests. Do you have any hobbies you’re neglecting? A life-long interest that you’ve never had time to dedicate yourself to? Indulge yourself. Obviously, this doesn’t have to mean taking a two-week cruise or upending your life to hike the entirety of the Appalachian Trail—but any little break you can take from your responsibilities to do something you enjoy will be fulfilling, relaxing and invigorating. Read a book, take a walk, call a good friend or play a sport you love.
- Exercise. Perhaps you often nag your children to play outside, but you have the same need. You need to pay close attention to your physical fitness, especially if you’ve been seeing Dr. Jenny Liu for a medical weight loss program. Exercise can help you reduce stress, improve your mood and increase your energy—and you don’t have to exercise on your own. Bring your family or friends along to share in the healthy benefits of whatever workout you choose.
Caring for the needs of others is important, but your needs are important too. Don’t let your own health fall by the wayside as you worry about your kids, spouse or family—you also need to be healthy and happy! Talk to Dr. Jenny Liu about more ways you can care for yourself.
What do you do to reward yourself for giving a helping hand to others? Share your experiences, tips and questions with us in the comments below.
