The Importance of Investing in Self-care
By Binney Wietlisbach, President

Everyone who knows me knows I’m a passionate (and fast) walker.

During the pandemic and our extended remote work period, I made it a point to take a walk, safely and outdoors, with every Haverford Trust employee. I’m well on my way to my goal, and it’s been a great way to reconnect with employees while we work from home and get to know everyone on a deeper level.

On these walks, I’m often teased about my fast pace, a speed which is somewhat reflective of my personality. I’m always on the move, whether taking on new challenges, building investment strategies, meeting new people, golfing (of course) and spending time with loved ones. Time seems to fly by! I know I’m not alone in this feeling. Between childcare, new work obligations, caring for loved ones and keeping everyone safe, life can feel like a whirlwind, especially during a global pandemic.

However, during such uncertain and challenging times, self-care must be prioritized. Doing so requires us to step outside of our hectic daily schedules and build in time to slow down, reflect, heal and recover.

Thankfully, doing so only takes a few minutes a day. Trust me, making this small investment today can pay dividends later in life.

The following are four ways to slow down and exercise self-care in any fast-paced lifestyle:

  1. LIMIT YOUR SCREEN TIME
    Between the presidential election, new COVID-19 developments and social unrest, 2020 was the year the news cycle never slowed down. We became even more attached to our cell phones and computer screens as the barrage of new information dominated our daily lives.This has led many to feel overwhelmed and powerless. While we cannot ignore the news completely, limiting screen time has also been proven to prevent headaches, improve sleep, reduce eye strain and even increase our focus.
  2. MOVE YOUR BODY
    The physical benefits of exercise are well documented. But less often discussed are the positive impacts regular exercise makes on our mental health. Exercise has been proven to reduce anxiety, depression, and negative mood swings, and can even improve self-esteem and cognitive function.It can improve your mood, relieve stress, reduce tiredness and increase mental alertness. Start slow; even just walking around the block can be extremely beneficial. Many people begin noticing a difference with just 15 minutes a day. The key is carving out time throughout the week to focus on exercise and make it a regular habit.
  3. PRIORITIZE FINANCIAL WELLNESS
    With so much uncertainty about the future, it can be easy to follow the stock market and financial news with a cynical eye. The ups and downs of the market combined with further uncertainty in Washington D.C. have made it difficult for anyone to know what will come next.It’s important to remember your long-term financial goals. Daily market movements shouldn’t warrant a change in strategy, and most of the time it’s best to drown out the noise and hold the course.

    That being said, never hesitate to contact your investment advisor. These experts can provide a broader perspective on the situation and make recommendations for what to do in the short, medium and long term to make sure you take a rational approach to meeting your goals.

  4. KEEP IN TOUCH WITH LOVED ONES
    Zoom fatigue is a very real affliction that’s impacting many of us. Chatting with friends and family over video simply isn’t the same as visiting in person, but making the time to connect with loved ones can do great things for your overall mood and wellbeing.Research shows that even just a single text message or short phone call can help increase your sense of belonging and purpose, boost our happiness, reduce stress, help cope with traumas and improve our self-confidence and sense of self-worth.

LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL
With vaccines on the way, we’re hopeful 2021 will be filled with a greater sense of normalcy. But until then, we must remember to slow down from our hectic lives and make time for self-care.

An investment in your wellbeing today should produce great returns down the line.