As an educational leader, you face many challenges and demands that can affect your mood and energy. How can you maintain a positive outlook and cope with stress, frustration, and uncertainty? In this article, you will learn about some effective self-care practices that can help you boost your emotional intelligence and well-being.
Self-care is the practice of taking care of your physical, mental, and emotional health. It involves engaging in activities that nourish your body, mind, and spirit, such as eating well, exercising, sleeping, meditating, relaxing, and having fun. Self-care is not selfish or indulgent; it is essential for your well-being and performance.
Self Care means taking care of yourself and in which "YOU" yourself matters the most hence one should always need to take care of mental, emotional and physical health. Vivekanda Ji has quoted very well- " Health is Wealth" until and unless you are not in good mental state you cannot work or focus properly similarly if you won't take care of your physical health you won't able to go to work. You should always prioprtise your own things and without being selfish eat healthy and detox yourself everytime for betterment.
self-care is an act of self-love and self-respect. It's acknowledging that in order to give , you need to have something to give from. It's the realization that by caring for ourselves, we are better equipped to contribute to the world around us. There’s nothing wrong with worrying about yourself first. The saying goes “ you can’t pour from an empty cup “. In my opinion that is the best way to define self care.
The first step to practice self-care is to identify your needs and priorities. What are the sources of stress and joy in your life? How do you cope with them? What are your goals and values? How do you balance your personal and professional roles? By answering these questions, you can gain more clarity and awareness about what matters to you and what you need to do to take care of yourself.
Another important aspect of self-care is to set boundaries and limits. This means saying no to requests or tasks that are not aligned with your needs or goals, or that overwhelm you. It also means communicating your expectations and preferences to others, and respecting their boundaries as well. Setting boundaries can help you avoid burnout, resentment, and conflict, and create more space and time for yourself.
Head of Department MBA and Executive Education, FSET, FRAS, FRSA, FIOEE, SFHEA
Setting boundaries is crucial for maintaining a positive outlook. Following may be useful to consider: -Prioritise self-care by allocating time for relaxation and activities that bring joy. -Learn to say no to excessive demands and delegate tasks when possible. -Limit exposure to negative influences, including toxic relationships and stressful environments. -Practice mindfulness and self-reflection to identify personal needs and values. -Establish clear boundaries around work, social interactions, and personal time to maintain balance and prevent burnout. By honouring boundaries, individuals can protect their mental and emotional well-being, fostering a more positive outlook on life.
One of the most effective ways to maintain a positive outlook is to practice gratitude. Gratitude is the feeling of appreciation and thankfulness for what you have and what you experience. It can help you focus on the positive aspects of your life, rather than the negative ones. You can practice gratitude by keeping a journal, writing thank-you notes, expressing your appreciation to others, or simply reflecting on what you are grateful for.
Gratitude journals are a terrific form of self-care that have exponential benefits. Take a few minutes a week to list successes, achievements, or people, experiences, or things you are grateful for. Studies have shown that doing that has many benefits to the individual. Take it a step further and once you have identified something or someone you are grateful for, share that with them. A text message, an email or a handwritten note goes a long way and magnifies the impact of the process for not only you but the receiver as well. This small routine can have benefits to the user but also the culture as a whole. Try it out today!
Self-care does not mean that you have to do everything by yourself. Sometimes, you may need to seek support from others who can help you cope with your challenges and emotions. You can reach out to your friends, family, colleagues, mentors, or professionals who can offer you advice, guidance, empathy, or feedback. You can also join a community or a network of people who share your interests, values, or goals, and who can inspire you and motivate you.
Finally, self-care requires flexibility and adaptability. You may not always be able to follow your plans or routines, or achieve your desired outcomes. You may face unexpected changes, setbacks, or opportunities that require you to adjust your actions or expectations. Instead of resisting or stressing over these situations, you can embrace them as learning opportunities and challenges. You can also be flexible with yourself, and accept your strengths and weaknesses, your successes and failures, your emotions and thoughts.
To become sucessfull you always need to be flexible that's what make you unique and out of the box. World is enough big where one can replace another and if you really want to be the unique one, start accepting things and mould it in your own way. Flexibility shouldn't be harsh or hamper your own mental balance, one needs to know how to balances out.