Redefining Self-care for Men as "Guy Time"
Guy time, also known as self-care for men, is a critical component of a healthy lifestyle. Many men struggle with prioritizing themselves and taking time for themselves, leading to physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion. Men give their time to others endlessly, out of a sense of duty and often at the expense of taking care of themselves. This is why The Lockman Lounge believes that guy time is a key function to helping men prioritize their mental health today.
Guy time involves activities that contribute to your physical, mental, and emotional well-being, such as exercising, getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and engaging in relaxation techniques like meditation or deep breathing. But often, men will skip these activities because they feel like they're sacrificing time with their families, work responsibilities, or a multitude of small tasks that are part of an ever-growing and never-ending list. Men are often guilty of putting their work and family responsibilities before themselves, neglecting their own well-being in the process.
If you're a guy who's reading this and you've ever called a buddy before a fishing trip, a hunting outing, or a cookout to tell them you wanted to make it but couldn't because you need to fix a leak in the roof, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Don't misunderstand me, the leak in the roof needs to be fixed, but if you've scheduled time to prioritize yourself you can probably toss a Band-Aid on the roof to keep it from causing any additional damage and fix it properly during a time when you weren't finally getting to go do something for you. A lot of men might not realize that pushing those self-care opportunities off can be detrimental to their well-being.
Why Guy Time is Important
The thing about constantly putting yourself on the back burner is, a guy who is experiencing burnout or fighting mental health conditions isn't the best husband, dad, or employee. Guy time can help you be your best self. Guy time is not just about taking care of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally - it's also about finding activities that bring joy, peace, and a sense of accomplishment. Most male-oriented hobbies like fishing, golfing, and gaming allow men to destress, be fully immersed in the moment, and feel a sense of accomplishment. These hobbies can also help promote connectedness as they often involve interacting with groups of people. Those experiences can help a man feel refreshed, less stressed, and more engaged at home and at work.
Guys, going fishing or working out isn't something that your family would expect you to skip so that you can do the 12th thing on your honey do list, and if it is...you probably need to have a conversation with the person who made the list. That last lightbulb all the way in the back of the attic can wait. That last email to the customer you've already replied to 7 times today...can wait. The oil stain in the garage, the hedges, the lawn...it can all wait. Your mental health is more important than those non urgent matters that can be tended to at a later time.
A Call to Action
Dudes, pick a day, at least a couple of times per month, and make yourself the priority. Go fishing, go golfing, see the boys! Self-care is for dudes too! I'll go back to the oxygen mask example from my first article, you have to put your oxygen mask on before helping the people beside you, and the same goes for taking care of yourself. By prioritizing guy time, we can boost our physical, mental, and emotional health, allowing us to be more productive, happier, and better equipped to handle life's challenges.
Guy time is a critical component of a healthy lifestyle that men should prioritize. By focusing on our own well-being and participating in activities that bring joy and peace, we can improve our overall health and happiness. So, fellas, don't be afraid to prioritize yourself and engage in guy time, it's for our own good! Thanks for taking the time to read and as always, go do something positive today! Do something for yourself, spend some guy time, or help someone in need. Take care.
John
About the Author:
John Lockman is passionate about promoting men's mental health. Having lost a family member to suicide at an early age, he is committed to raising awareness about the disproportionate number of men affected by this devastating issue. Through his own personal experiences and his website, www.thelockmanlounge.com, John hopes to help men think differently about how to prioritize their well-being and become more comfortable acknowledging and processing their feelings in a healthy way.
In addition to his passion for mental health advocacy, John also has almost two decades of experience in the business world. Most recently, he oversaw roughly 100 million dollars of annual revenue and was responsible for managing a team of 75 employees. In this role, John had a significant impact on customer service, profitability, employee retention, and marketplace growth. With his wealth of knowledge and experience, John is a seasoned professional with valuable insights to share.
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