Why Self-Care Is Important For Your Personal Growth Goals

Self-care is often thought of as an indulgence, or a reward for getting through a busy or difficult few weeks in your life. However, the true purpose of self-care can be misunderstood: it is not about the occasional pampering session (although there’s nothing wrong with this!), but an integral part of life that can help you to develop and grow as a person. 

Here’s a look at the real meaning of self-care, and some ways to make it play a more central role in your life. If you would like some more personalised advice and support on your journey, you may like to consider working with an online wellness consultant.

What do we really mean by self-care?

Self-care is such a frequently used term that it has kind of lost its true meaning and we tune out: we hear it so much in advertising and marketing spiel aiming to sell us scented candles or body lotion or whatever. However, true self-care has little to do with these products, but is about prioritising your mental, physical, and spiritual needs. 

Often, these needs can be put on the back burner when we are busy and pulled in different directions by the demands of life. However, by learning to manage our self-care as a consistent and ongoing process, we can harness its power to help us be our best selves.

Self-care and personal growth

If we neglect our mental, spiritual and physical health, we risk burnout and may lose sight of our goals, or get less enjoyment from hobbies, relationships, and careers. It can hold us back, making it difficult to progress or find new insights into ourselves, and can encourage us to hold on to outdated or limiting beliefs about ourselves.

By putting self-care front and centre, you will have more clarity and focus, and this will make you more resilient and able to identify what you need and what you want from life. 

Practical steps for self-care

Physical self-care

Taking care of your body will provide you with the foundation for a more enriching life. It’s not about looking good, but ensuring that you nourish yourself with energising food, get adequate sleep, and do some form of exercise that you enjoy. This will help to sustain you through challenging times, and also promote a calmer and clearer state of mind.

Mental self-care

Protecting yourself from unrealistic expectations from yourself or others and setting goals will lead to better mental wellbeing. Learn to set boundaries and say no to things that will not significantly benefit you or others. 

Spiritual self-care

Taking time to check in with yourself through meditation or journaling can help you to keep in touch with your emotions and deal with any mental clutter that is weighing you down.