Living Well
Wellness is essential for everyone. Everyone should know that you cannot take care of anyone else if you don’t take care of yourself first. The mind and body need to work together in harmony. If the mind is cluttered, it can’t take care of the body efficiently, and if the body is not functioning at an optimal level, then it will eventually break down. This break down will lead to sick or miss days of work, both choices that can be avoided by simply taking the time to take care of yourself and live healthier.
The decision to live healthier is a personal choice, one of personal empowerment. Self-empowerment is somewhat related to self-care. How many times have you asked your children if they have brushed their teeth? Probably many times. You didn’t brush their teeth for them, but you were concerned if they had done it themselves, thus self-care. The term self-empowerment is bringing the same type of concerns into the 21st century, and the only difference is that it involves number one, which is you.
I invite you to take a personal look at your own lifestyle, nutrition, weight, and overall health. Some say that our brain has the ability to mimic others. Although this may be true, I don’t think I would get skinny by just mimicking someone who is slim; otherwise, I would already be skinny. It’s just not that simple. The ability to change one’s self involves more than just the mind; it consists of the desire to make a change. Self-empowerment cannot be achieved without engagement by the host, which is you.
So if you are ready to change, then jump into the driver’s seat of your own life and start your own personal journey. Where do you want to go? What do you want to change? After all, as health care providers, we have the ability to inspire others, why not lead by example and use your own personal changes to inspire others.
As I mentioned earlier, self-empowerment plays a significant role when it comes to taking care of yourself. If you are like me, you usually work more than your scheduled hours. Working a lot of hours equals more money but less personal time. Sometimes I describe personal time as “Stopping to Smell the Roses” because if you are continually working or involved in some activity, you are wasting precious moments provided to us by Father Time. The time that you cannot have back. Taking care of yourself has to become a priority, just as attaining optimal wellness. I cannot stress how important it is to stop and take a personal “TIME OUT!”
According to the United States Travel Association Californians earned approximately 318,000 days of PTO, which is fantastic. However, they did not use all the days and left behind about 97,000 days that could have been used for personal take time off. I am sure that most of you earned PTO days by working a lot of hours, and now I encourage you to put that same effort into taking care of yourself.
If I have persuaded you to become self-empowered, then start by making a plan, a plan that has time for personal care. For example, get a massage, go to the spa, go for a walk, go to a concert, go to the movies, meditate or take yoga. These are just a few examples, but I believe the best option for relaxation is taking a vacation. You may ask yourself why go on vacation? The list below contains some of the most popular reasons for taking time out.
Top Reasons for Taking a Time Out!
- Relaxation
- Reduce stress/anxiety/fatigue
- Improve sleep/mood/health
- Lower blood pressure
- Avoid burnout
- Improve work performance
- Enjoy Holidays
- Checkoff bucket list
- Make memories
- Take advantage of Flight/Hotel discounts
- Spend time with Family
- Spend time with Friends
- Enjoyment/Excitement/Adventure
- Experience new cuisine
- Experience new places and cultures
Taking a personal time out,
Helps to promote that professional sprout!
Just to review, I have provided some great ideas that could help you relax and some essential reasons why it is crucial to take time out, and now the rest is up to you. There is no specific time to start this journey. However, you owe it to yourself to start right away; after all, you deserve a treat for all of your hard work, whether it be employment or education. Everyone has their own preference, so choose something that will help you to unwind and become more in tune with your mind and body. Once you begin this journey, the personal awards will become apparent, and you will immediately feel more focused and refreshed.
Congratulations on your new journey! Remember, self-empowerment is the key catalyst that will help you to live a healthier lifestyle. Thank you for taking the time to “Stop and Smell the Roses” by reading this blog. Please visit NurseAvatar website next month for new information on wellness until then, Take that Time Out!
