Prioritizing Self-Care: Choosing Balance Over Burnout

Prioritizing Self-Care : Choosing Balance Over Burnout

Masyafitri1   Wiwin Aulia2   Irika Ripli Ananda3   Melinda Fatma Aryanti4
1,2,3,4 English Language Education Study Program, Universitas Islam Negeri Mataram

Have you ever found yourself too busy caring for others and forgetting yourself? Self-care is how we can take care of ourselves, carefully for mental health so that we are still balanced and not easily stressed. In today's fast-paced lifestyle, many people are overwhelmed by responsibilities, academic pressure, and social expectations, which often causes them to ignore their own needs. Therefore, practicing self-care is essential to maintain emotional stability, prevent burnout, and improve overall quality of life.
Self-care plays an important role in improving mental health by lowering stress and emotional overload. Mental health is easily affected when people ignore their own needs and push themselves too hard. For example, taking time to relax, meditate, breathe deeply, or do enjoy a hobbies like reading or listening to music can reduce feelings of anxiety. Many psychologists recommend short breaks during the day to prevent emotional exhaustion. This shows that self-care does not always require something expensive or complicated. Small action can already protect the mind from burnout and help someone stay emotionally stable. Therefore, practicing self-care regularly can make the mind calmer and more focused in daily life (Riegel et al., 2024).
(Krell-Roesch et al., 2018) Self-care also has a strong impact on physical health. The body needs proper rest, balanced food and movement to function well. For example simple habits like sleeping 7-8 hours a night, drinking enough water, stretching between activities, or taking short walks can improve physical strength. Doctors often emphasize that exercise and healthy eating lower the risk of illness. Even if the actions seem small, staying consistent helps the body stay fit, energetic, and ready to work. In other words, self-care habits support the body's performance and prevent health problems (Torres-Soto et al., 2022).
Another benefit of self-care is increased productivity and better relationships. People who feel balanced physically and mentally tend to perform tasks more effectively. For instance, someone who takes regular breaks, eats well, and manages stress can focus better at school or work. They are also more patient and respectful when communicating with others. When individuals take care of themselves, they are less lonely and feel irritated or overwhelmed, which improves their social interaction. As a result, Self-care not only improves work performance but also supports positive connections with other people.

self-care is essential because it supports mental health, physical well-being, and daily productivity. By taking simple actions such as resting, eating well, relaxing, and managing emotions, people can prevent stress, avoid illness, and stay focused. When individuals care for themselves consistently, they become more balanced, productive, and able to build positive relationships. Therefore, self-care should be seen not as a luxury, but as a necessary habit in everyday life (Gmez-Jorge & Daz-Garrido, 2023).

Reference
Gmez-Jorge, F., & Daz-Garrido, E. (2023). The relation between Self-Esteem and Productivity: An analysis in higher education institutions. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 1112437.

Krell-Roesch, J., Feder, N. T., Roberts, R. O., Mielke, M. M., Christianson, T. J., Knopman, D. S., Petersen, R. C., & Geda, Y. E. (2018). Leisure-Time Physical Activity and the Risk of Incident Dementia: The Mayo Clinic Study of Aging. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 63(1), 149--155. https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-171141

Riegel, B., Barbaranelli, C., Stawnychy, M. A., Matus, A., & Hirschman, K. B. (2024). Does self-care improve coping or does coping improve self-care? A structural equation modeling study. Applied Nursing Research, 78, 151810. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnr.2024.151810

Torres-Soto, N. Y., Corral-Verdugo, V., & Corral-Fras, N. S. (2022). The relationship between self-care, positive family environment, and human wellbeing. Wellbeing, Space and Society, 3, 100076. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wss.2022.100076