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I want to say this loud, and clear: self-care is not selfish.

Do not let anyone tell you that it is. Even at the most basic level, taking care of ourselves lets us be able to take care of others.
Think about the directions they give you on an airplane “In case of an emergency, please put your mask on before assisting others”.

If you have nothing left to give, how can you give your best effort? You can’t. You cannot pour from an empty cup, so you must fill your cup again. How? By taking care of yourself.

So many times we burn ourselves out because we don’t know how to say no. In our culture everything moves 100 miles per minute.
And that’s okay. It’s okay to go fast. But every so often you must stop, and take time to truly evaluate your needs.

Taking care of yourself doesn’t have to mean a day at the spa, or a vacation. Sometimes it simply means saying no to that after work get together so you can fit in some extra sleep. It can mean making sure what you put in your body gives you proper nutrition and energy. It can mean taking time to spend with your family, unattached to your cell phone. The list is endless, but you can only start checking items off if you give yourself the time.

Self-care needs to be a priority, and one you should never feel guilty for focusing on.