Self-Care is Essential

Being successful often comes with a massive to do list. And I know, that there are times that we do so much for others and we simply do not put ourselves first often enough. But without giving our body, our mind and our overall self a break, and taking care of us, we cannot possibly be successful in every role we find ourselves in. Take time for you! Not just on the weekend, but everyday of the week. Unfortunately I cannot guarantee that everyday will be like a day at the spa, but setting aside 15 minutes a day to do something for yourself is OK and beneficial. Believe me you are much more useful, successful and lovable at 100% than you are at 0%. So what are some things you can start to do to take care of yourself and show yourself some love? And this is by no means in any particular order.

1. Value Alone Time Alone time can allow you to recharge and re-calibrate. It gives you an opportunity to be with yourself and reflect on who you are, what you want and what you're doing or not doing. You can meditate, reflect in gratitude or even pray but whatever you do make time for this. 2. Eating Healthy Trust me, I need to work on this one too but I've also learned not to punish myself if I have a mini cupcake or a slice of cheesecake sparingly. I mean really... it's not the end of the world. But it is important to nourish our bodies with good, healthy foods. I meal prep to make it easier for me and I make sure not to grocery shop when I'm hungry. Remember those 5 basic food groups you learned about as a child: breads/grains, fruits, veggies, milk/dairy, and lean meat/fish. Well they are still good for providing a well balanced diet. 3. Sleep I know you might be saying to yourself.... "like well duh" but believe me sometimes we take a good night sleep for granted or maybe you overdo it and sleep the day away. Do you know that your sleep and your mood go hand in hand. Have you ever not gotten enough sleep and just went to work or school or had a simple conversation with joy and enthusiasm? Chances are, the answer to that question is no! Good sleep makes you feel happy, healthy and strong. Get you a good sleep mask, throw on some ocean sounds (whatever works for you even no music/sounds), pray and close those eyes. 4. Treat Yourself Think about it, what does that look like to you? I'm a working wife and mother who also volunteers at my church (my life is not like The Real Housewives of... no disrespect) but it's not. So treating myself sometimes is taking a nice relaxing bubble bath with my candles and a book at the end of the day. There are lots of ways to treat yourself. You can buy yourself something (even if it's a latte at Starbucks), get a massage, eat that piece of cheesecake, workout at the gym, or take a relaxing bubble bath. I'm not talking about things that need to be grandiose or expensive. I'm just talking about making yourself a priority and treating yourself to something nice. I mean why not, you deserve it.

5. Exercise No, that is not a foul word. Your physical being is a part of your self-care. You only have one body and you have to take care of it. I'm not telling you to become a gym rat but I am encouraging you to move a little so you can build a stronger, healthier you. 15-30 minutes a few times a week. There are many more ways to incorporate self-care into your daily routine and make it habit, but these are just a few. You are necessary, deserving and invaluable. Do you see yourself that way? Is you value and worth found in running yourself ragged? Or always saying “yes?” Absolutely not! It’s a balance that comes from taking care of yourself mentally, spiritually, emotionally and physically. While helping others from the overflow. So find ways and take some time each day to show a little bit of love to yourself.