Self-Care should be a priority, it’s so important for our well being. Those important times you focus solely on yourself is to help you to reflect, relax, re-energize & most importantly to heal. Being the business owner, looking after the home, working full-time, part-time or add your activity here _________________ takes a toll on the body mentally, physically and emotionally.
Our bodies are amazing, so why don’t we see the warnings
We are amazing human beings but looking after our body is very much taken for granted. Until we are forced to stop and take notice. It’s then that we realise we need to slow down and look after ourselves better.
However, even that self-talk can turn out to be just that talk. We think we can convince ourselves that we’ll take that needed time to look at self-care but soon. After I’ve finished this, or done that. I will look at doing something maybe next month. Just like excuses, we convince our mind that we are ok.
I was hit with burn-out, it wasn’t nice
I burned out in 2017 the funny thing was I did not know until I spoke to a friend. It was talking about my feelings, my past family events, being the caregiver, the strong one in the family etc..
I then realised that I had never stepped away from my business, family & not selfishly looked after myself from the age of 18
I needed to reassess
I needed to let my body heal from the many years of grief, being there for everyone, the worries & stress I had on my shoulders and in my heart.
It was dangerously obvious that my body was crying out for me to stop. So it could begin to heal from all I had been through over the years.
I was there for everyone and forgot the most important person “ME”.
Disconnecting is hard but needed
It took me a week to totally disconnect from my online routines, from my phone, from everything.
To be selfish with my time, to be strong and ask for help to look after the kids so I could really focus on me.
If you are not looking after you mentally, physically and emotionally it will overflow into your world.
It will affect everything, no matter how hard you try to keep it all together.
If your that kind of person who says” I’ll be alright. I’m a tough cookie” or “I can handle anything life throws at me”
Well, that’s what I thought I was until burnt-out said to itself “ok, Janet you don’t want to notice the warning signs your body gave you, then I have not choice but to slap you in the face and stop you in your tracks.”
Don’t let self-care force your hand
Making self-care a part of your life is so important. Talking about your feelings, be open to assess, reflect and see how you are mentally, physically and emotionally.
When you put you first you will become more intuned with yourself
Listen to your body, as it always lets you know something’s up
Love your self unconditionally. We all have baggage that we carry. But it’s how we unpack that baggage that decides how it will affect you long term.
That moment was a turning point
For me, a lot has changed for the better
I become more aware of my body. I mean really aware.
I was already a vegetarian but started to become more of a fruitarian eater
I explored crystals and their properties, which lead me to find out I feel the energy of others
I meditate often and it has helped me overcome so much
I now put me first and take self-care very seriously.
It’s time for you to look after you
Getting burnt-out stressed outed, overtired is not the best way to end up before you choose to look after you
Your family, business & life needs you
So no matter how strong you think you are your body needs time to look after itself
You can’t help your family or business from a hospital bed
Self-care does not need to take over your whole week like it did mine. I was gone too far
You can start with small amounts of time focusing on you and build up from there
8 Ideas to help you focus on you – Self-Care is for life
I don’t want to leave it here. So below are some ideas to help you start including self-care into your life. Remember this is not a one time action. You must continue to take a timeout for you.
- Disconnect for an hour or 2. Switch everything off & let yourself be free from the online world. It will still be there when you switch your devices back on
- Take three deep breaths. We breathe without thinking. Now take a deep breath and focus on what you are doing. Keep your mind on your breathing and nothing else. Breathe into your abdomen, and let the air puff out your stomach and chest.
- Go for a run or walk for a few minutes. Look around and take notice of your surroundings.
- Walk bare feet on grass like in your garden or the park. Walking a grass bare feet helps ground us.
- Take a long bath, with candles to set the mood and a good book or some soothing music.
- Be silent and sit still. Its easier said than done. This can be done anywhere. For 10 minutes.
- Start to meditate. You can go for 5 minutes, 10 minutes or more. I found a great app that I started to use its called Let’s Mediate
- Go to sleep in the day. I know shock horror. A nap can reset your energy so you are ready to take on the work again.
What will you start doing when it comes to self-care? Or if you are already doing something that helps you share it with us below
