By David Welham
The last few weeks I have been thinking about how important it is to look after ourselves. It is really good to help others and do something like volunteering or look out for someone.
But please do not lose sight of the fact that you need to look after yourself. I spend a lot of time supporting others but forget that I need to think about my mental health as well.
Importance of self care
So I thought about taking a step back – watching a bit of the World Cup, catching up on some reading and going for some walks – to look after my mental health. I remember someone saying to me that it’s quite common for someone who is so active with promoting mental health to neglect their own mental health.
This is so true, and it’s why I wanted to write this article and highlight the importance of self care. Self care is not selfish and is not a bad thing. We all should think about self care.
Techniques for self care, like spotting signs when things are getting on top of you, are important. So if you support someone with a mental health issue, or if you’re a mental health champion or an advocate, then look after yourself as well.
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