Looking After Me

For me this section is about taking care of ourselves. I think as women we naturally spend a lot of time taking care of others – even if we don’t have children, it seems to be the default mode of a lot of women to cater to other people. It’s only been in recent years that I’ve started to put my own needs first.

This might sound a bit selfish, but it’s the whole oxygen mask thing – if I don’t look after myself, then I’m really of no use to others. When I’m overworked and under-rested, I am not only unpleasant to be around, but I actually have nothing of value to offer to anyone else. So self-care has become a non-negotiable part of my life.

Another thing that has become an active part of my life is self-acceptance. Actually, not just acceptance – which sounds almost as if I’m just tolerating myself – but self-love. I’m learning to cherish the things that make me, me. I guess that sounds a bit twee, but I’ll tell you this – it has made me happier, simply by allowing me to focus more on what I love about myself rather than what I don’t. I encourage you to create a list of things you love about yourself too, using the prompt in the Yearbook. Return to it throughout the year and add to it over time.