Real Talk presenter and radio personality, Azania Mosaka, recently shared her struggle with self-care on Instagram in a lengthy post that let her followers in on her personal life.
She first mentioned how she used to overwork herself, not eat healthy and neglect working out. She also added that realised that she wasn’t happy and the only person that could help her, was herself.
“From 2011 to early 2017 I prioritised and did things that were not good for me. I neglected my wellbeing,” she began.
She added; “Long days, working hard, often 7 days a week, eating on the run, eating badly, de-stressing over drinks with friends, inconsistent with exercise…had no time to evaluate my life, my relationships, my path. I didn’t even recognize how far I had wondered away from myself. I was building a castle. Had to build a castle (isn’t that the goal?)…just on a treadmill to collapse and exhaustion.
“I had a drawn out slow crash. Didn’t like the life I was living. I was anxious, tired and unhappy. What Kagiso Msimango describes ‘as a life of quiet desperation’. No amount of new stilettos could fix it. Or new furniture. Or new project. No relationship could fix it. No amount of dinners, engagements and level of busyness could fix it. Sounds bleak doesn’t it?”
SELF-CARE IS IMPORTANT
After making this realization, Azania decided to do something about it.
So she went back to all the things she really enjoys doing, and even though some might find her boring now, she’s happier; “One step at a time, I went back to the things I love. That filled my spirit. Cleared my home of unnecessary, unused things, went back to the theatre, movies and art. I started replying non-priority messages (I had neglected a few people you see) committed to gym and yoga. Most importantly, I cook, I walk, go on hikes AND I went back to my gardening….An interest many would call ‘boring’. But I accept that I’m ‘boring’ then.”
She concluded that to take care of her mental health, she sees a therapist and also does breathing exercises to cope with life’s pressure: “I see a therapist and do breathe work with her to reset and connect my mind, body and soul. (She is in these pics as well). Self-care comes first. Everything else second. Now even when things get difficult, I breathe my way through it. I hope you find your teachers and guides.”
Source: Channel24
