Hello, self.

Self Care Is Not Being Selfish

by Aparna Mukherjee

ime was when I used to prioritize others' words and what others used to say about me. Do I look good? Am I looking smart in this outfit? Does my achievement mean anything to my friends and relatives? All the time, my mind was occupied with other people's opinions If my friend say a certain outfit does not suit me, I used to keep the dress back in the wardrobe If my relatives say that I am not open to them, I used to feel bad The words of my relatives used to pin in my heart. If my neighbors say that I am choosy and moody, I used to keep thinking about it the whole night Those words keep oscillating in my mind for the entire night At last, my sleep hampers and I wake up with the tired look the next morning. Others' statements used to matter me a lot Most of the time, I tried to look good in other's eyes I used to give my best to make people believe that I am good in most ways. In a bid to prove myself in every step, I kept losing my mental peace and myself Every little word of others means a lot to me Positive words of others made me feel good. Negative words of others made me feel depressed Time came in my life when I had to put a stop to other people's opinions I decided to live a life for myself.

Why is it that we keep valuing other's words and other's opinions? Why others need to judge me and why I have to pay heed to them? Is it bad to value ourselves? Is it bad to say 'No' to people? All these years, I tried to please others In a bid to make others happy and be good to others, I started losing myself which I did not realize. Then, I said to myself, "Enough is enough." It is time to live for myself It is time to take care of myself

Self-care is important for all of us Give some time to yourself. You will have you family to look after. You will have your work commitments and other things in your daily life Amidst everything, you should make time for yourself Keep all tasks aside for a day and start taking care of yourself from now on. You must be thinking how to self-care?

Pay attention to your body and mind

Most people focus more on the body and overlook the part of mind If you are mentally drained, it will affect your physical health. You will not be able to focus on your work if you are mentally exhausted. Hence, start working for your mind and body Gain mental peace, avoid unnecessary gossips, stay away from toxic people, and eliminate negative people and negative thoughts from your mind.

Practice yoga to gain physical and mental fitness

Train your mind to think positive and stay calm in every situation. Do not overstress yourself. Take a break from your work so that you can spend time with yourself You spend time with your family, friends and relatives Do you ever spend time with yourself? If not yet, start spending time with yourself from now on. Delve into your likes and dislikes. Think what you love to do and focus your energy in doing things you love

Treat your body and mind like a temple Instill positive thoughts and filter out negative thoughts. Be with people who motivate you and distance from people who de-motivate you It is your life and do not let others to control your life Do not handover the remote of your life in other's hands Stop toiling day and night in office and at your place. Convert your tired look into a fresh one by indulging in beauty therapies Consume fresh fruits and veggies instead of grabbing a packet of chips or munching on a burger Give your taste buds the crunchy taste of nuts instead of binging on a slice of pizza.

Fresh fruits will not only make you fresh from outside but from within Take a soothing shower or spend time amidst aromatic candles Read inspirational books or do meditation. Invest yourself in soothing music which will help unwind your mind. Take care of your mind which will help keep your body healthy automatically Prioritize yourself and sat aside every thing and everyone for the time being because you are precious!

In a few words, Aparna defines a woman who beholds high aspirations and firmly believes in expanding her horizon. She holds a Master's degree in English Literature from Mumbai University. By profession, she is a Website Content Writer.

Her poems got published in the Indian Literature website named Facestory's.com. Currently, her stories and poems get published in the anthology books in the eminent Reflection Magazine and in the renowned digital magazine, Storizen.

She is bestowed with the Indian Global Award 2022 and has been felicitated with a medal in the Tagore Literature Festival 2022 by Literoma.

Her world revolves around creativity and writing. She wishes to make her mark in the literary world, hoping to leave an indelible imprint on the readers' minds.