Many of us, especially those of us with families and jobs, become used to putting other people first, focusing on fixing issues and helping others live worthwhile lives. However, even a mother with a newborn can fail to fulfill her duty well if she ignores the vital necessity of self-care, and sometimes, preserving and rejuvenating yourself is the best thing you can do for another.
Often, people can feel that needing access to health care, additional specialists, self-care, a period of calm, lessening their duties, or managing a condition is too much of an ask. This is because many of us aren’t used to putting ourselves first, even if that’s quite literally the most important thing you can do right now. This kind of guilt can carry with us, prevent us from seeking the treatment we need, and may make us avoid asking our bosses for time off, or that which we need to properly curate our needs. Additionally, it may prevent us from switching to healthcare providers that actually care, such as the best OB-GYN necessary for private care and pregnacy.
In this post, we’ll discuss why you never need to apologize for focusing on your health:
Mental Health Affects Us All
Many of us can think that we are impervious to certain conditions just because we’ve never had them before, but we’re all largely equipped with the same ‘hardware,’ and very similar ‘software’ when it comes to our bodies. Mental health, for instance, is essential for everyone to keep up with, not just those who are given the means to meditate all week and work out in the most stress free conditions. There should be no shame if you need to book a mental health day, or talk to your boss about difficulty you’re experiencing, or reaching out to friends for help. That’s a sign of strength, not weakness.
Self-Care = Productivity
We can often think that self care comes at the expense of being productive, but that’s not true at all. After all, you need to visit OB-GYN services if you’re to do the best for your pregnancy, you need to sleep enough in order to be alert and focused during the day. The more you can care for yourself, the better an employee you’ll be, or the more accurately you can focus on your work. Don’t let yourself believe otherwise.
Valuing Yourself Is Key
Valuing yourself and your health is key, and when we apologize for that, we defer the responsibility or the approval for our own health to someone else. That in itself is a mistake, and can make you feel lesser than you are. For instance, it might be that you need a day to visit the doctors for a medical worry you have, or for an appointment. Sure, you might need to book the day off, but that doesn’t mean you should apologize for it. The more you can get into this mindset, the more you can firmly but still politely ask for that you need, particularly if you have a condition to manage.
With this advice, you’ll see why and how you should never apologize for taking care of and focusing on your health.