This post may contain affiliate sales links.
DON’T GET LEFT BEHIND.
“It is so important to take time for yourself and find clarity. The most important relationship is the one you have with yourself” – Diane Von Furstenberg
Self-Care in men is no longer a thing of the past, all around the world there is a subscription to self-care practices. Because being left behind is not the prize we are after, also, It is noticeable in our appearances & our productivity which trickled down to our performances and negatively impacts our resourcefulness. Basically, a lack of self-care will inhibit our ability to show up when it really matters.
The investment in self-care must not be taken lightly, it is what keep us ahead of our game, whatever your game is. As men, we have a propensity to be seen as being tough, however, when we shy away from the very thing that can put us in control of physical and mental toughness; we are shooting ourselves in the foot.
A 2017 study of men 18 to 30 across three countries revealed that men often feel pressured by society to fit in the male identity. In short, to prove our masculinity, we needed to be perceived as being “TOUGH & AGGRESSIVE”. Further the very thought of self-care deducts from us to be “real men”.
According to WHO, Self-care is what people do for themselves with the emphasis on maintaining physical and mental health and at the same time preventing illness. It encompasses factors such as: hygiene, nutrition, lifestyle among others.
‘Self-Care is what people do for themselves to establish and maintain health, and to prevent and deal with illness. It is a broad concept encompassing hygiene (general and personal), nutrition (type and quality of food eaten), lifestyle (sporting activities, leisure etc.), environmental factors (living conditions, social habits, etc.) socio-economic factors (income level, cultural beliefs, etc.) and self-medication.’- WHO 1998
Here are 15 Ideas to start the journey of self-care
What happens when I neglect self-care?
Basically, neglecting to attend to the very things that will make us relevant in the most competitive era in modern times will be compared to us living a primitive life.
We are also risking a fast-track functional decline which can be accompanied by a double digit of risk factors.
Here is an interesting article that summarizes what happens when there is a lack of self-care.
Treat yourself the way you deserved to be treated.