I was not the best student of Economics in high school, but there is one principle from the subject that has remained stuck in my head over all these years – the law of diminishing returns. In layman’s terms, this law states that after a certain point, further investment or effort does not increase your output or expected return. It can, in fact, reduce it.
In comparison to us as humans, when you spent time engaged in a task, you are expending effort. After a while, you get tired. The natural thing is to take a break, however, maybe because of a pressing deadline or some other factor, you continue to push, tired as you are. The more tired you become, the less you concentrate. You lose focus and so the quality of the output is less than desired. The law of diminishing returns set in and so the extra time spent after reaching your peak were wasted as you failed to achieve your intended target. Simply put, the more tired you are, the less you produce.
The solution? Take a break. Practice self-care. The saying ‘all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’ is true. If you work, you must also take time to play. Self-care is self-love and contrary to the belief that self- love is selfishness, the Bible admonishes us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.
In order for any piece of equipment to function at maximum efficiency, it has to be serviced at regular intervals. Recently, the pump for my water tank stopped working. The plumber advised that it needed to be serviced and a part needed to be changed. You may wonder what that has to do with selfcare. My dear readers, it has everything to do with self- care. You see, your body can be likened to a machine or piece of equipment which is put to work every day. Self- care is the servicing that your body needs to operate efficiently. If you keep going without taking breaks to rest, recover and recuperate, you are heading for burnout and a breakdown. As we say in Jamaica, you will certainly pop dung!
There are workaholics who pride themselves in never taking a sick day or vacation from work. Sad to say, they are doing themselves no favours. Wearing such a badge of honour is a recipe for disaster. Just remember that if you die on the job (and this has happened) there will be someone to replace you. You cannot save the world.
There is an advertisement on television which encourages us to love our bodies and treat them right. I urge you to take heed. Take time to stop and smell the roses. Below are three ways in which you can practice self-care:
- Getting enough sleep – sleep is a necessity, not a luxury. Try to get between 7 and 8 hours of sleep each night. Gregory Arneaud, in his book, How You Sleep is How You Live outlines the dangers of sleep deprivation, which can also be caused by untreated sleep disorders. There is no cure for sleep but sleep. Lack of sleep affects your mood, concentration, and mental focus. Sleep deprivation has been linked to motor vehicle accidents (drowsy driving) as well as accidents on the job which involve operating machinery.
- Connecting with family and friends – the saying no man is an island is so true. We cannot do life on our own. There are times when we need solitude to think and reflect, however, there has to be a balance. Connecting with friends and family provides a sense of belonging and happiness, which reduces stress and anxiety resulting in an increased quality of life.
- Deep breathing – Taking time to breathe deeply and slowly has many benefits, including calming the nervous system, reducing heart rate, blood pressure and stress hormones in the blood. This promotes a sense of calm and wellbeing which allows you to be more productive in your endeavours.
This is certainly not an exhaustive list. There are many other ways to practice self-care. You may do your research and find something which works for you. The important thing is to start a routine. Be consistent and you will reap the benefits.
How will you start your self-care journey? What steps will you take to remain consistent? Let me know in the comments section.