Have you ever experienced a time when life felt very overwhelming? In the overwhelm, it gets hard to make yourself a priority. Sometimes there are demands on your life that make self-care nearly impossible. There are times when this is situational and times when it becomes chronic. As a result, self-care gets shoved way down the list of things you’d like to do but can’t or don’t.
Self-care is vital for a variety of reasons. Self-care helps regulate
- A healthy self-image
- A healthy mind and body
AND
- Healthy communication
What does self-care have to do with communication?
When we are caring for ourselves and taking the time to restore and refresh, we have more energy, less stress, and a greater capacity to cope with life. This makes our communication kind, clear, and consistent.
When our self-care is on the back burner we suffer from stress and anxiety which can reflect in our communication. We can easily become
- Distracted
- Closed off
- Insecure
Or
- Depressed
By taking time for self-care our well-being can be improved which helps in our inter-personal relationships.
Here are some tips to keep self-care a priority and your communication healthy
Tip- Be honest when you feel burned out- Simply sharing that you need time for self-care goes a long way. Many people don’t recognize that you are maxed out when you are showing your best face. If you are reaching your max trying to get through life, tell those closest to you. It’s healthy to set boundaries or confess when you need time for yourself to recharge.
Tip- Build self-care into your schedule- You will make time for the things you prioritize. Seeing self-care as a necessity will help you manage your emotions whether it’s a regular Tuesday or a super-stressful Friday. Building self-care into your daily routine offers the relief you need to center yourself and avoid common stress-related communication fails like yelling, sarcasm, or shutting down.
Tip- Encourage self-care for those around you– Giving self-care a voice is healthy communication. If you see someone else struggling, encourage them to enjoy self-care too. Empathizing with someone’s overwhelm and connecting with them on that level is a healthy form of communication. Sensing when someone could use a break, or a helping hand can make a big difference for both of you.
Self-care makes everyone a better communicator. Well-rested people who can articulate their need for self-care get better outcomes. People who prioritize self-care for themselves and others build healthier and stronger relationships.
