Don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today is an adage of ages past and will be cited for generations to come. I’m sure you can think of other sayings that refer to similar principles. What about tomorrow waits on no man? And there are: tomorrow is not promised, or who knows what tomorrow holds?
But wait a moment.
None of these time-related sayings necessarily mean to do everything today. After all, there are only 24 hours a day, and one-third or more is for sleep and rest. Working too long at the expense of one’s physical and mental health puts one’s well-being at risk.
These sayings speak to and are founded on experiences and life-learned lessons about procrastination. Many of these lessons concern waiting until the last minute to do something that could or should have been done earlier.
These time-related sayings concerning work and personal achievements also apply to acts to maintain our well-being. Incorporating self-care into one’s daily activities need not wait too long or be put on the back burner.
There’s nothing more important than one’s self-care. Making mental health a priority is a task for today! Putting first things first is a good and wise plan.
Undoubtedly, we all procrastinate and are guilty of putting things off until tomorrow or even waiting until the last minute.
Planning, or the lack thereof, is all about managing the slippery slope of time. We all have said I need to take some time, save some time, or make some time. Self-care is a need and priority that deserves a thoughtful plan and action.
Don’t have time to plan?
Eleanor Roosevelt said, “It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.”
Make a wish your plan. Take some “me” time today!
We make plans or appointments for various health checkups: dentist, physicals, and others. We plan to grocery shop on certain days and times during the week.
Making plans isn’t foreign; we do it all the time to get personal, household, and things on our jobs done.
Benjamin Franklin said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”
No one wants to fail to take care of themselves.
I’m not saying everything necessitates a plan, but any goal without commitment to act is useless.
Don’t let your self-care go left undone. You are important! Prepare and plan to give yourself special attention. You deserve it!
John F Kennedy said, “The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.”
We remember it wasn’t raining when Noah built the Ark. People buy a smoke detector or a fire extinguisher to be preventive.
Similarly, we plan for self-care to maintain vitality and a healthy lifestyle relative to our spiritual, mental, and physical well-being.
Abraham Lincoln said, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first hour sharpening the axe.”
Sharpening the self-care axe to stay healthy is a good plan.
When it comes to physical and mental exertion, we don’t want to overdo it. It is OK to finish what is undone tomorrow.
Our self-care is a priority every day!
Here are a few daily self-care goals.
Put yourself in timeout as a reward. No work activities are allowed.
Take a power nap to refresh and replenish vitality and strength.
Read the Bible or a devotional for inspiration and spiritual renewal.
Go for a walk if the weather allows for fresh air and exercise.
Call a friend to chat and catch up.
Don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do for your self-care today.
Be well.