Chapter 2 : The Rust On The Iron

Chapter 2 : The Rust On The Iron 

Have you ever experienced ironing clothes with a rusted iron? 

I recently experienced this when I was trying too hard to iron a shirt. It took me half an hour to press that piece of cloth.  Suddenly, a voice inside my head wondered why was I taking so long? I already had a long list of tasks to do and when I put the iron back I noticed there was a rust that caused it to slow.  Before moving on to the next task, I started furiously searching on google for ways to get rid of the rust. And then it hit me:  we are always rushing to fix and take care of external factors, but we never put the same effort when it comes to taking care of ourselves.  

The Importance of Checking In 

YES! We  need maintenance too. Everyone will face this truth at some point in their  lives:  keep rushing through life without a pause, and your body will certainly pause for you, and the results might not be so pleasant. 

Life shouldn’t feel like a race. Unfortunately,  in order to complete any task on time, or to accomplish any goal, we often neglect ourselves. Sometimes we are overburdened or we are simply not present. Whatever the reason may be, it could take a toll on our mental health and our bodies. 

Competing With Society’s Standards

So why are we so hard on ourselves? We keep pushing ourselves relentlessly until we eventually burn out. We often fail to maintain a healthy work-life balance, spending most of our time at our jobs and neglecting the importance of self-care. Sometimes, we don’t prioritize taking breaks or  stretching our bodies regularly.

Perhaps we do this because we link our worth with our jobs, status , titles, accolades, and more. To prove ourselves,  we get involved in the never-ending competition of living a life according to standards set by society.

Think about this. Usually,  the most common questions you  hear  at  networking events is:  What do you do for a living? What are your achievements? This directly, or indirectly, creates  an overwhelming and competitive response. People start to blindly race each other for the sake of  these titles. They push themselves so badly to the finish line, and before they reach the end, they collapse. 

The Consequences of Neglecting Self-Care

Why do we wait until problems arise before we start taking care of ourselves? For example, you don’t need to wait for a physical problem to arise to start exercising regularly, in particular if you have a family history of a medical illness.  Similarly,  if you are having trouble concentrating or completing tasks, you can gradually reduce your screen time. Steer clear of any problems by taking care of yourself— physically and mentally.  After all, you can’t pour from an empty cup. 

Neglecting self-care can significantly impact our well-being and even more profoundly affect those around us. One clear example of this is the communication gap that emerges when we lose touch with ourselves.

Sometimes, a simple conversation or quality time with loved ones can provide a much-needed boost. When was the last time you hung out with your friends? How often do you make time for your hobbies? When did you last travel?

Effective communication can resolve major conflicts, but our lack of mindfulness often becomes the main obstacle. Without active listening, it is impossible to respond appropriately. When we fail to take care of ourselves, neglecting regular maintenance and self-checks, how can we expect everything to function smoothly in our lives?

Strategy for Self Check-In : 

To reset yourself and unlock your full potential, give yourself time.

To communicate effectively, avoid rushing to respond. Listen carefully, understand fully, and then reply. Your connection with yourself is just as important as achieving any goal.

We often feel down, depressed, and overwhelmed, but it’s our responsibility to remind ourselves to shed the negativity. Remove the useless thoughts that keep us in a negative state. By prioritizing yourself and taking regular breaks from your routine, you can make a significant difference.

The goal is to celebrate yourself every day!

Reflective questions: 

1. How do you prioritize self-care? 

2. What does self-care mean to you? 

3. How does exercising regularly keep you fit mentally?