Don't Forget to Care For Yourself

The very qualities that make many people such great candidates for a career in household service-joy in giving to others and a seemingly bottomless capacity to do so-are the very qualities that set up a household employee for self-neglect.

Those whose lives are devoted to service to others quite often don't bother thinking of their own needs. As a result, household employees are often vulnerable to illness, both emotional and physical.

It doesn't have to be this way, nor should it be if you truly want to provide the best service to your employer. Think of it this way: when you are suffering from less-than-optimal health, either emotionally or physically, you aren't able to give your best service.

Leave behind bad habits.
One area to examine in your life is bad health habits. Do you smoke? Drink more than you should? Fail to get enough sleep? Drink too much caffeine? All of these can contribute to poor health. The health hazards to some of these are obvious-smoking, of course, leads to a host of health problems. But drinking too much alcohol and/or caffeine are poor ways to deal with stress or lack of sleep. Relying on such crutches may result in an inability to handle these problems in constructive, healthy ways. And such an inability can further weaken your health.

Nutrition.
Many people believe that nutrition is important only if you are trying to lose weight. But the reality is that no one's body can work optimally if you have poor nutritional habits. Do you get enough vitamins and antioxidants? How about important nutrients like calcium, iron, potassium? What about fiber and protein? Do you consume too much fat, salt, and/or empty calories? Do you drink enough water? All of these are questions to ask yourself as you decide how to best improve your nutrition. Many reputable books and magazines are devoted to the topic of making healthy food choices and providing healthy recipes to help you simplify the task.

Regular check-ups.
Regular visits to the doctor, optometrist, and dentist are essential. These help you catch potential health problems before they become major crises. Such visits are also a good time to get answers to any questions you may have about your health. In the case of the optometrist, in addition to receiving tests to ensure your eyes are healthy (and not at risk of problems such as cataracts and glaucoma), you will be able to ensure your lens prescription(s) are kept up to date.

Exercise.
You may believe you get plenty of physical activity on the job, and this may indeed be the case, especially if you do a lot of housekeeping or caretaking work. However, there is one very important reason you should strive to include non-job related exercise in every day: it is a great source of stress relief. Even a 30-minute walk can work wonders to clear your mind and help you leave behind the troubles of the day.

Cultivate hobbies.
Enjoying hobbies is one of the best ways you can care for your emotional health. Do you enjoy reading, gardening, crafting, playing board games, having dinner parties, woodworking, etc.? Be sure you carve out regular time to do what you enjoy. Sometimes it can be difficult to set aside your "to-do" list at home and just have fun for a while, but it is extremely important. Taking even a little time for yourself will help ensure that you continue to find joy in caring for others!