Strengthening
Families
It’s not Selfish!
Many individuals today feel that there is no time
for self-care. Some are caring for multiple
generations of family, working at a
demanding job, and participating in
community or church activities. This may
seem to require all your time and energy. While
attempting to meet the needs of so many others, you may have put
your own needs at the bottom of the list.
But making personal time and taking care of yourself are important for
emotional and physical well-being, especially when you feel
responsible for others. When you take care of yourself, you are not
being selfish, but are helping yourself to be able to care for those who
depend on you. Neglecting your own physical or emotional health can
lead to stress or burnout.
Taking care of yourself includes physical self-care,
maintaining a social or support network and taking time for
relaxation.
Physical self-care means you should eat a nutritious diet, exercise
regularly and get enough rest. It also means that you should not put off
your own doctor’s appointments and check ups. It is important to
maintain your physical health so you will have the health and energy
needed to care for your family.
Maintaining friendships may be difficult when you are busy but
you will benefit from those social contacts and the support they
provide. Make an effort to maintain relationships that are important to
you. Having someone you can talk to can be very helpful when you are
feeling stressed.
Taking time for leisure or relaxation may be difficult. It may
seem like a low priority when there are so many demands on your
time. But it is important for your well-being and managing your stress.
Just a few minutes a day doing something you enjoy can refresh you.
If you have trouble finding time for leisure, schedule it in. Otherwise
you may never get around to it.
If you think you don’t have time to do these things, try
these tips for managing time:
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Make a plan according to your priorities. Plan what you want
to accomplish today, this week, or in a month. Break big jobs into
smaller tasks.
Use a to-do list. Write down your goals for the day and prioritize
according to things that absolutely must be done, things you
would like to do and those tasks that really don’t need to be done
today. Start with the most important task and mark off each task
as it is accomplished.
Delegate tasks. You do not have to do everything yourself. Give
some tasks to other family members, including children. Be sure
to explain what is expected and make tasks age appropriate.
Learn to say no. Think about your priorities and eliminate those
tasks that are low priority time users.
Think about what you can do to start taking care of yourself. Make a
personal plan to work on this by starting small and practicing self care.
Author: Amy Griswold, Extension Educator Family Life 2008
For additional information contact:
Joyce Pyatt, Family Life/Consumer Education
University of Illinois Extension - Jackson County
402 Ava Road
Murphysboro, IL 62966
PH: 618/687-1727
United States Department of Agriculture  Local Extension Councils Cooperating
University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.