5 Signs You’re Not Taking Very Good Care of Yourself

You’re a nurturer. You’re a mom. A wife, sister, friend. You do a lot of care-taking, whether it’s physical or emotional, when it comes to your friends and loved ones. But are you taking care of yourself? It’s important that you put yourself first when it comes to your emotional and physical wellbeing if you want to be there for others. Here are 5 signs you’re not taking very good care of yourself.

1: You hardly prepare your own meals, if at all

If you mostly eat out or order in and you’re not eating well-balanced meals, this is a sure sign that you’re not taking very good care of yourself. Diet and nutrition play a huge part in not only our physical wellbeing but also our mental and emotional state. Eating like crap will not only take its toll on your figure, it will also contribute to feelings of anxiety, depression, lethargy, and overall pooeyness – my word.

2: You don’t make time for the important people and activities in your life

Spending time with the ones you love doesn’t just make them feel good – it’s good for you, too. Studies show that having close, interpersonal relationships (healthy ones) has many health benefits (see below). Besides, who wants to spend all their waking hours working and making no time to play? If you’ve seen The Shining, then you’d know: “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”

3: You hate your job but you don’t do anything about it

If you can’t find reasons to enjoy what you do for work and it just feels like a ‘dead-end job,’ then it’s going to negatively impact your life. We’re humans, not robots and so, even if you could keep work life and home life separate for a time, the unhappiness and bad stress that your job is causing will inevitably seep into the other aspects of your life. If you don’t like your job, then find something else. The only thing keeping you there is you. You have the ability to choose something else.

4: You’re not exercising

It’s been found that, along with nutrition and adequate rest, movement is one of the main ‘buckets’ for good health and well-being. It’s OK if you’re not a gym rat, you can do other activities that provide a source of movement. Things like bike-riding, swimming, going for brisk walks, yoga, and Tai Chi are all great ways to incorporate movement into your daily life.

5: Your personal hygiene is slipping

Now, that isn’t to say that you’ve stopped showering altogether, which, if this is the case, you should probably talk to someone about the possibility of having depression. But, if you don’t make time to do the little things that make you feel good about yourself, such as having that bi-weekly pedicure or taking bubble baths (or whatever it is you enjoy), then this is another sign that you’re not taking good care of yourself. It’s important to make time for yourself to indulge in the little things that you enjoy.

And there’s real science behind this. Studies have shown that:

• Increased happiness is closely tied to the quality of your relationship with others. Having good relationships was one of the main differences between very happy people and those who identified themselves as ‘less happy.’
• Better overall health is also related to good self-care. People who are generally lonely are more likely to be at a higher risk of high blood pressure, according to a recent study of older people.
• Besides increased quality of life, people who take care of their needs also have been found to live a longer life. During a 9-year study, findings revealed that people who have strong social and community ties were two or three times less likely to die.

Some food for thought:

Laughing decreases pain, may improve heart and lung function, relieves muscle tension, and reduces anxiety.

Positive emotions decrease stress hormones as well as build emotional sobriety and strength.

If you or someone you love is struggling with substance abuse or addiction, please call toll-free 1-800-777-9588.