This piece is part of my 2016–2026 archive migration. Some original formatting, content, and external links may be missing, changed, or not be optimized.
The essentialness of prioritizing the self
We have to initiate our own self-care if we desire to experience a healthier holistic lifestyle and well-being.
H.A.L.My mother often reminds my family and me of the acronym H.A.L.T.
Never get too:
Hungry
Angry
Lonely
Tired
When we reach these points, our decision-making skills weaken, which only exasperates our negative state of being.
What Self-Care Looks Like:
Self-care looks different for everyone. Listen to your body, mind, spirit, heart, and soul to figure out what you need from moment to moment.
Here are some examples:
Taking a lunch break and not working through it.
Working out – even if you “don’t have time.”
Getting in steps to move your body. We often sit way more than we should.
Not looking at a screen all day. For those of you who work on a computer for a living, have you ever noticed that when you’re done working for the day, you go straight to the next screen – whether it’s your tv, phone, laptop, or tablet? Self-care includes taking breaks from screens at times.
Putting more h2o in our bodies instead of drinking more sugary or sugar-free drinks and caffeine.
Saying no to additional responsibility at work to maintain a healthy mental state.
Not attending a work meeting outside of your working hours.
Declining a social invitation to rest.
Not signing up for another obligation when you’re already at your max.
Saying goodbye to an unhealthy relationship.
Saying goodbye to toxic work environments.
Traveling.
Taking time to clean your environment.
Ordering house cleaning so that you can spend time on more valuable endeavors.
What Happens When We Don’t Take Care of Ourselves
The consequences always make themselves known when we neglect ourselves; we become hungry, angry, lonely, tired, stressed, frustrated, bitter, depressed, empty, used up, and less vibrant.
Often, we put everyone and everything else before ourselves, and for what?
All we have is one life, body, mind, and heart. So, why do we take it all for granted as if we’re invincible?
Why do we continue delaying our self-care as if someone else will eventually take care of it? This is a loaded statement because if we continue not caring for ourselves, we end up forced to have others care for us because we can no longer care for ourselves.
Don’t Depend On Your Partner To Care For You
When we’re in relationships, sometimes we dump the responsibility of caring for ourselves on our partner instead of remembering that we can care for ourselves.
It is not the responsibility of our partners to take care of us. Yes, it is our partner’s responsibility to be mindful of our needs, but we can’t rely on others to meet all of our needs. Some (or many) of our needs we need to rely on ourselves for.
Quick Summary
Even if you feel like you’ll be frowned upon or chastised, take care of yourself. I guarantee your life will improve significantly by prioritizing your well-being. More frequently than not, you’re going to be the primary actor in your self-care. As you invest in your self-care, you will notice a positive correlation in your happiness, peace, mental health, and emotional well-being.
This content is for informational purposes only — not professional advice. Consult a qualified professional before making any major decisions.