How self-care helps you change the world

“I feel guilty spending time on myself. It feels selfish.”

I have heard some variation on this theme more times than I can count over the years, especially with people who feel called to make a positive impact in the world.

My take on it is that, far from being selfish, self-care is actually something that enables you to make more of a difference.

The conversation is usually prompted by some kind of feeling of “Any time I spend on me is stealing that time away from the difference I could be making – and there’s so much need!”

And that might actually be true, if they were a mechanical perpetual motion machine.

But they’re not. They’re human.

In the short term, yes, they might be able to get more done ignoring their own needs and focusing on doing, doing, doing, more, more, more.

But at some point, it inevitably catches up with them (which is why the catalyst for the conversation is often some feeling of stress or burnout).

Maximizing your ability to make a difference isn’t just committing to a long hard slog through a to-do list from hell for the rest of your life. It’s about playing the long game and recognizing that sustainability is the key.

When you burn yourself out giving and doing, doing and giving, with no time for self-care, you diminish what you have the ability to offer. You can’t do as much, and you can’t do it as well.

Self-care is a vital piece of the equation. It’s the only way to bring more of the best of what you have to offer to whatever you care about for the long haul.

Time for self-care affects how well you do whatever you do. It affects how you interact with people, both professionally and personally. It affects what you will even try, and how you will be bounce back when things go sideways. It affects the energy you have to put into your efforts.

Bottom line, self-care isn’t selfish. It’s a huge part of what allows you to make the most of your gifts and abilities to have an impact.

Try this: Look at your life and ask yourself, “Am I making self-care enough of a priority? And if I’m not, what is suffering as a result?”

Self-care is a catch-all for numerous ways you can care for and nourish yourself. Some examples include:

• Take unfocused down time for yourself
• Spend time with a practice like meditation or yoga that helps you feel grounded
• Exercise
• Do something that gives you pleasure (like reading, or a hobby you love)
• Spend time with a good friend
• Eat healthily
• Stop for 60 seconds and breathe deeply
• Go to bed earlier / Get more sleep

I’m not suggesting that you suddenly carve out hours a day to focus on self-care, but if self-care is an area where you fall short, I am suggesting you start.

Maybe you start with committing to taking 10 minutes each day to relax and do nothing. Enjoy something beautiful. Lose yourself in thought.

Maybe it’s going to bed a half hour earlier each day.

Maybe it’s committing to a brisk five-minute walk each day.

The size of it isn’t really the point at the beginning. If more feels feasible, great. If not, start small. The point is to find a doable way to dip your toe in the water.

And as you do, remind yourself that every minute you invest in self-care is a minute you invest in the good you can do.