When self-care comes to mind, it usually brings thoughts of putting time aside for some much needed “me-time” and learning to be kind to yourself when you look in the mirror. Although these are extremely important things to do, it can be useful to remember that self-care can sometimes come with a price tag. Taking care of yourself, as well as changing your inner monologue to love yourself, also comes with the responsibility of ensuring you keep up with health appointments and hobbies that help you to feel good about yourself. Here are the best reasons why putting some money aside for yourself could be one of the best decisions you ever make.
Essential Health Care
Whether it’s a checkup with a doctor that ends with a list of prescriptions, or an appointment at Ideal Dentistry or your local dentist that includes a deep clean or filling, it’s important to have money aside for the regular appointments that can slip your mind when life gets hectic. As well as the recommendation to visit your dentist every six months, you should get a check at the opticians every two years, and your hearing checked annually. Even though you may think your eyesight is fine, gradual deterioration can be difficult to be aware of, and a test can also help to detect early signs of diabetes. Therefore it is imperative that if you haven’t had one in a while, you book an appointment. It may also seem overkill to get your hearing checked, however, unlike a sore tooth or poor eyesight it is more difficult to detect early signs of hearing loss, so a yearly test is essential. Of course, all these appointments will come with a baseline cost for the basic service, and added costs should you need any extra treatment, so it is a smart idea to have a pot of money you can dip into should you need it, so you don’t miss out on the recommended treatment.
Pamper
Even though it is important to love your body as it is, that doesn’t mean you can’t have your nails done, or your eyebrows waxed once in a while if you want to. Putting some time aside to relax and pamper yourself will not only help aid your confidence and reasons for self-love but also help you to feel rejuvenated and ready for the next Monday after a long, hard-working week. You can either stay at home and have a relaxing bath with candles and a face mask, or you can go for the full package and book into a spa for the weekend for a massage and a long sit in the steam room. Having some money aside for either option could significantly reduce your stress levels, and rest has been proven to improve your immune system – even more of a reason to take some time out for yourself. Even if you’re schedule is packed all week, you could put aside just one hour to get a facial or a manicure – just that little bit of time to focus on yourself, rather than your to-do list, can make the rest of your day seem a whole lot more manageable.
Exercise
If there is one way to heighten your serotonin levels and help you to feel energized and ready to take on the world, it is to exercise. A full to do list will always contribute to the feeling of lethargy, and if you sit at a desk, you may find you are struggling to sleep at night due to a build-up of unused energy. Putting some money aside to be able to take up a new hobby like badminton or swimming will not only give you something to look forward to at the end of your working day but will also introduce you to a new social scene in your life. If you are looking for more regular exercise and prefer to do it independently, hiring a personal trainer or simply signing up to your local gym will give you a space to go that is solely for sweating it out and getting a good workout in. If you feel that you are more of a group exercise lover, your gym or a local exercise group may offer a variety of classes like Zumba, Yoga, and Boxercise that will give you a quick 30-45 minute workout that will easily fit into your daily routine. Even though it may seem like one more item on your already full plate, taking some time out to work off some stress can actually help the most monumental task feel a lot smaller.
Therapy
Life has a funny way of cropping up unexpected difficulties that you may feel you need help with. Getting help for ill mental health like depression and anxiety, or for grieving a loved one you may have lost, is admirable and extremely beneficial to your health and recovery. Though there are charities and services available to you should you want to talk to someone, like The Samaritans, a regular therapy appointment will help to work through how you’re feeling at a pace suited to you. It will also give you useful tools to help you through your struggles, should you feel them again after the completion of your course of therapy. Even though a long course of therapy can be pricey, it is more beneficial for you to fully complete the treatment rather than leaving prematurely and not be able to fully work through everything you need to. Setting money aside will mean you can give yourself the best care without having to cut yourself short due to funds.
Hopefully, this has given you some food for thought on why it is important to set some time and money aide for your own well being and self-care. Even though self-care is something that is predominately free to work on, it is important to remember that taking care of yourself can come with a cost, and putting some money aside can help to keep unexpected cost stress at a minimum.
