Find the balance between selfishness and self care

A beginner’s guide to mindfulness doesn’t have to be scary or daunting, self care is often about employing small changes that make a big difference. The key to bettering your relationship with the mind is finding the healthy balance between self-care and selfishness. Self-care is particularly important when you see it as a process of refuelling. When you care about yourself, eat well, take time to exercise and even more importantly focus solely on some ‘you time’ you will feel rejuvenated.

For so many people, self-care is so rare that ‘too much’ simply isn’t even a consideration. This is particularly true when we become parents and we are hardwired to nurture and look after the people around us. This means that any time we take for ourselves – we feel guilty for.

Why is mindfulness and self development important for everyone? 

If you are more mindful and practice self care, it stands to benefit everyone as it rejuvenates your mind and leaves you feeling able to communicate with those around you, being a better version of you. From health to fitness, meditation and finding new passions, there are so many ways to live your best life.

Nosh Detox founder and life coach, Geeta Sidhu-Robb, gives her tips on better mental wellbeing

Learn when to say no

This beginner’s guide to mindfulness is as much about saying ‘yes’ as it is about saying ‘no’. Take time to think about what makes you happy, fulfilled and energised.

Saying yes all of the time is draining and can lead to us spreading ourselves too thinly.

Alone time is key and we all have different ways of relaxing, from cooking a nutritious meal to taking a candle-lit bubble bath. Saying no to certain engagements and tasks will free up the time to show yourself the love and compassion you work so hard to show others.

Doing something which you hate can be exhausting, and hating yourself for saying yes to it is often even more exhausting. Have you ever noticed how much more positive energy you give off when doing something you truly want to do?

Where your focus goes, energy flows

That’s a roundabout way of saying that whatever you set as a goal you will be much, much more likely to achieve.

If you are clearer on your boundaries, you say no more often, you refuel and look after yourself, you will inevitably become mentally more focussed and emotionally stronger.

Set new goals

Now is the time to decide consciously where you want to end up not only this year but in three years.

Experiments have proven we achieve more than we think in three years but less than we hope in one year. So set goals for both timelines to start with.

You can always change them as you move on. Also setting a goal is like raising a flag up for the universe’s’ attention.  You’re saying, ‘Hi there, a little help please?’ and the universe always, but always responds.  But remember; it will always give you want you need, not always what you want.