4 min read

Recognizing Your Self-Care Needs

Updated: Jul 25, 2023

Welcome to the third part of my series on 'self-care'. If you haven't read the previous posts, you can read them both here and here. By the time we're finished with this series, you'll be well on your way to developing your very own self-care routine you can implement in your life to bring you more peace and balance.

However, the first step to creating a self-care routine is to recognize that you actually need one. So how do you do that? Don't worry, at the end of this blog post, is a simple assessment you can take to see what areas of your life you need to take better care of you.

Sometimes we struggle to make healthier changes in our lives because we're not convinced yet that we need to make a change. Or sometimes we may know we need to make a change, but because we dread it, we would much rather avoid it than embrace it. But the goal here is to live our best lives, right? So it's important that we recognize when a change is needed, especially in our self-care. Below, I've listed some of the more common signs to look for when it's time to make a serious change when it comes to taking good care of our well-being.

You feel lost or stuck in life

Do you feel you're stuck in a rut and you've lost sight of your purpose? This may be one of the first telltale signs that you need to make a change. God has an intended purpose for every human being on this earth, but sometimes it's hard to recognize it or stay focused, even if you do know what your purpose is. With all the noise going on internally and externally, it's not surprising that most of us get off track now and then. Sometimes the only tweak that needs to be made is as simple as finding that self-care routine that works for you. Something that grounds you, relaxes you, and slows you down enough so you can breathe and refocus. So if you feel life your life isn't your own anymore, it's time to make a change for the better.

(paid link)

You're unemotional

Another sign you need a self-care routine is that you're constantly finding yourself and your mood unimpassioned about things and life in general, and you don't enjoy anything anymore. Listen, you don't even have to be depressed, simply feeling a constant sense of blah about your everyday life and why you're no longer satisfied can be a clear sign you need to reevaluate how you're going about your life and what changes you can make to get back on track. Think about the things that once made you feel good and why you no longer do/like them. This is a sign you need to make some changes to your daily routine so you can get back to feeling the excitement you once had.

You suffer with poor self-esteem

Low self-esteem can develop for a lot of different reasons. However, it's more common for those who don't take care of themselves. If you lack self-care, you may often criticize yourself more or worse, feel like you aren't worthy. This is a dangerous attitude to have. When you go down that rabbit hole, it could lead to other things. Over time, if we let our poor self-image of ourselves continue to grow and spew out of control, it can lead to you feeling and thinking you aren't deserving of good things or a happy life. This is totally contradictory to God's Word. In John 10:10 (part B), it says that, "I came that you may have life and that more abundantly". An abundant life is a life that's abounding in fullness of joy and strength for our spirit, soul, and body (stay tuned, I'll be talking about this more). So you see, there's nothing about an abounding life that includes poor self-esteem. Sometimes a slight change in how we care for ourselves can make a big difference in how we see ourselves.

You have little to no energy

Being tired and having little energy throughout the day could be a sign that you're not getting enough sleep. However, your constant lack of energy could be related to a deeper issue. It could also mean you've lost your passion and interest in life. When you spend a lot of time doing things that don't inspire you, it can quickly zap your energy. If you're constantly waking up tired and drained (even after getting a good night's sleep), take it as a sign you need more self-care in your life. When you start taking care of yourself consistently, you'll feel energized and ready to take on anything.

We've gone over a few signs that could indicate you need a self-care routine ASAP. As I've shown you, self-care can help improve your self-esteem, give you a sense of purpose, give you more energy to perform, and help you feel happier about your life. If you want to change your life for the better, recognize what areas of your life need help and use self-care to eliminate them. To help you do that, you can take my 'Self Care Assessment' below. Just download and insert your answers right from your computer or other digital device.

Now stay tuned for next week for the final post in this series, where I'll finish out, by showing you how you can begin your own self-care routine and give you some great ideas to start with. Until then, continue to... do you well!

Ephesians 2:10; 5:29, 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19-20; 10:31, 3 John 1:2, Mark 6:31

Having a blast serving!