Prioritizing Self Care
4 minute read
Work. School. Spouse. Bills. Parents. Kids. Church. Friends. Family. How on earth are we supposed to manage so many responsibilities, all while trying to remain mentally and physically healthy? While the answer is far from simple, one thing is for certain, self care is a key component in maintaining a healthy balance.
When I mention self care to clients, I typically hear, “I don’t have time” or I am asked, “What does that look like?” Then, I usually hear a list of barriers. And let’s be real! When the goal is survival, self care is the last thing on a person’s mind. However, it is the lack of self care that contributes to exhaustion, stress, anxiety, mood swings, anger, and irritability, relationship issues, poor self esteem, and health issues. It is imperative that we take moments to restore, even in the most stressful times.
Now, let’s address your thoughts because I know they are similar to the thoughts mentioned above.
“I don’t have time.”- Break it up. This could look like 5 minutes of meditation before beginning work in the morning and again after lunch. Having just those few minutes to BREATHE can make a difference in your mood and focus. Schedule it and prioritize it. More than likely, you use some sort of calendar or planner to keep up with tasks. Well, self care is one of the most important duties, yet we leave it off of our schedules. Block off time in your schedule for self care by putting it on the calendar. Set an alarm to remind you. It is a priority! Notify others. So you’ve scheduled your self care but now the goal is to limit interruptions. Tell your family and friends, even your co-workers or supervisors, that you will not be available during this time. Set the boundary and be firm. No interruptions, with the exception of emergencies. You might even want to be specific about what is considered an emergency. Ask for help. It is ok! This is one of the most uncomfortable ones; however,your friends and loved ones will be happy to help. This could include a sitter, help with moving, or covering a shift.
“What does that look like?”- Many times we think that self-care has to be time consuming and extravagant. Of course it can be, but here are some suggestions for simple self care activities that can easily be added to your schedule:
Coffee/tea and meditation in the morning before everyone wakes up
Grocery shopping alone (put your headphones on and listen to music while shopping)
Sitting in the carpool line and listening to your favorite music
Gym/exercise
Sitting in the car before going into the house
Guys/girls night
Date night
Locking yourself in the bathroom
Aromatherapy such as candles and sleep lotion
Going to bed early
Saying no
Mani/pedi
Massage
Take advantage of that sick time or vacation day
Staycation
Start a new hobby
Read
Put your phone on do not disturb
Even if your life is a hot mess, these ideas are manageable and applicable. Remember that you can not pour from an empty cup, so take care of yourself.
With Elite Love,
Phyllis
