Taking time for yourself is one of the best things you can do to stay balanced, focused, rested and restored. No matter how much we love our self-care practices, there are times when we can feel guilty about our decisions. Check out these 3 commons things that seem selfish, but are totally okay when it comes to your self-care.
Canceling Plans
Ideally, we’d all love to have an infinite amount of time in the day to fit everyone and everything into our schedules. However, there are only so many hours in the day, and it’s okay to set aside some of those hours for yourself! It may be hard for you to put your foot down and decline an invitation – or cancel plans- but according to a study by the Oxford University Press, saying no to after work plans can help you achieve your goals, and give you the time and space to recover and unwind. The study notes that saying no can preserve and restore your energy – however, there’s an efficient refusal method to use. The study recommends saying “I don’t” instead of “I can’t” – that way you’ll be in control of declining plans. For example, saying “I don’t drink on weekends” instead of “I can’t drink on weekends” puts you in control of the situation and it doesn’t sound like an indecisive response that you seem uncertain about.
Letting a Call Go to Voicemail
We know you love your best friend and you’d never miss the chance to catch up with your sister, but it’s okay not to answer every single phone call that comes through on your phone. A 2013 study from Kent University in Ohio found that people who are attached to their phones are less likely to be happy than individuals who can refrain from paying attention to a ringing phone or a text notification alert. Stay in the present and focus on the now to keep yourself happy and content!
Not Apologizing
According to a study from the University Of Waterloo in Canada , women apologize more often than men do. The study says that the reason for this is because women have lower guidelines for what they consider to be distasteful or obnoxious. Additional studies explain that apologies can be a “a de-facto way of communicating, a way of filling the silence and keeping the peace when interacting with others.” Unless you’ve truly done something wrong, there’s no need to fill the silence. Give yourself permission to skip the apology!
