The Art of Believing in Yourself: Nurturing Self-Care on a New Professional Path

In our daily grind, we usually ignore the profound need of self-care and self-belief (and I do think these two are connected and impact each other).

Starting on a new professional journey is exhilarating, but it can be equally taxing. It's a leap into the unknown, a step out of the comfort zone, and a test of your mettle. And while we focus on skill sets, business plans, and strategies, we often forget the silent yet pivotal role of our emotional and mental well-being.

Why Self-Care is Crucial

Imagine your mind as the soil in which your professional dreams are planted. Just as nutrient-rich earth fosters the growth of seeds, a well-nourished mind cultivates the seeds of success. Self-care is the regimen that enriches this soil, ensuring that stress, doubt, and burnout don't leech away its vitality.

When we embark on our new journey, it's so easy for us to ignore the need to take care of ourselves. We may think we don't deserve it as we're not really bringing money in, or we are not working as hard.

That is a mistake. As we are on an unknown path, the roadblocks and difficulties are numerous, and some are yet unknown. To overcome this we have to be mentally prepared.

I've learned (the hard way, I should say) that if I don't dedicate a few minutes a day in my wellbeing the impact is evident and there's always collateral damage impacting not just yourself but your family, friends and basically anyone you're in contact with.

These are some of the things I've been working hard atr implementing:

1. Set Boundaries: Learn to say no. Your time and energy are precious; guard them fiercely. Yes, you are not working a 9-5 job now, but you still have your tasks, plans and ideas. Bringing your ideas into life requires time and energy.

2. Create Rituals: Establish daily rituals that foster peace: morning meditation, an evening walk, or simply a cup of tea. Anything that takes you away from the daily worry into a quiet pause. Make sure it's in your calendar, and repeat it religiously so it becomes a habit. and make it simple for it to happen.

3. Stay Active: Regular physical activity keeps the mind sharp and the spirit resilient. Easier said than done. This is by far the most difficult for me to do. Although I have the time to do it; I don't need to wake up at 5:30am as I did while working. But there's something pulling me back. What I found to be helpful it to start small, as if cheating myself into it. "Just hop on the treadmill for 15 minutes for a quick walk" for example. That does the trick. I reminds me how good I feel when it's done. How accomplished I feel. But (sorry, there's always a but) make sure this as well, becomes a habit. A task we automatically do.

4. Nourish Your Body: A balanced diet is fuel for both body and brain. Don't grab something on the way; that way we always end up with the most unhealthy thing to eat. This means we need to invest time in planning. Create a weekly food menu for you and your family. Based on that do your grocery shopping (also helps in minimizing waste and spending less money). Allocate a day for cooking and put food in the freezer, preferably in meal portions so you don't end up defrosting more than needed.  Additionally, put some healthy snacks in your bag in small ziplock bags and eat that when you have the urge to munch. I always have almonds in my bag with me, just a few. It helps me overcome any urges to nibble something. It's tasty, it's healthy, and it makes me feel full. A win-win. And one last thing, practice mindful eating. Focus on each bite, enjoy it, appreciate it. If you’re new to this, I’d recommend checking this website by Headspace that in general made it clear and much more practical when I made my first steps into mindfulness. 

There are many more things to consider here but I started with these four; as I always, keep it simple. Start with these and we will check out some more self-care recommendations on another post.

As always, I'm here for your questions, comments, ideas. Use the box below to send me a message.