The honest, hard truth for me is that I have allowed my cup to get to (and run on) empty for way too many years. If we sat down together and paused to really think about and discuss exactly how often we "take care" of ourselves, I think you would be surprised at how little time you actually spend. Ok, you brush your teeth and wear clothes everyday. 👏 That's awesome! But if that is the only time you dedicate for yourself, you are doing yourself a huge disservice. And lying to yourself doesn't change the facts. Do you hear me? I know you just read that, but did you let it sink in? (it's ok, reread as many times needed for it to resonate).
Getting honest with myself was the step to understanding just how little I do for me. We all have the same 24 hours, it's what we do with them, right? By now, if you've read anything else of mine, you know a little about my crazy chaos with 4 children, a husband gone 3/4ths of most days between work and school. As I hop back into my minivan for the umpteenth time to drop off or pick up a child from their activities while being serenaded by loud obnoxious toddler toys, clanging and blaring, it can start to feel a bit like groundhog day, minus 'a bit'. I'm talking (with this pouty face in full effect😡) "What? We have to eat dinner again tonight?" I'm talking adult-style tantrum coming out in .01 seconds because it's time to make another meal or do another load of the never fully finished pile of laundry (you know you've been there too). Stop running on empty, just barely making it to the next "to-do" on your list (My to-do list feels like a scroll and I literally just told my husband last week it felt like my scroll is 3 blocks long, impossible to see EVERYthing at once). I am going to share with you some of my favorite ways to spend time on myself so I don't have to fight the desires to move to my own island and write off civility as a whole.
First of all, how much time do you have? Most days, I'm lucky to comprehend devoting 5-10 minutes. This is where you shine like a rockstar when you 'squeeze' it in. You are actually telling yourself that you love yourself and YOU are worth some of your own time too. You might even start to like yourself more. My favorites in this time crunch are as follows:
🍵Make yourself a tea or coffee, paying attention to small details helps, like which mug you use.
⤳Get fancy and while it steeps or brews, wash your face or treat your hands to a spa-like softness with a body polish
💧*Mix your pamper time in with your regular shower time, and apply serum afterwards with a jade roller to relieve a little stress/tension.
👃Using a roller on your face in general just feels so right, relieves tension, improves circulation and is a lifesaver if you are prone to sinus infections like me.
💪Roll out your muscles or stretch extra (especially after a hard workout), use a wand massager or give yourself a mini massage (especially if I have a headache, I'll apply a little headache relief blend of oils and massage it into my temples - I legit carry this in my purse so I can do this at any onset of headache) on your forehead, hands or feet.
🛄Organize and declutter spaces you spend time
👀Read (a chapter, a poem, a paragraph - something)
🎹After a hard workout, recover your muscles with recovery balm while listening to soothing relaxing music.
⌚Do a relaxing breathing exercise (using a smartwatch or following a YouTube video)
📎Post your favorite quote that brings you back to center and read it
😃LAUGH (there are so many benefits and release that comes with this).
🐦Get into nature or observe nature (bird watch, or take in what you hear, see, touch, hear and smell)
🏃Do a 10 minute or less exercise challenge or just move your body in general.
👄Affirm yourself (say something positive or give yourself applause for an accomplishment, etc.).
⤳Get fancy and while it steeps or brews, wash your face or treat your hands to a spa-like softness with a body polish
💧*Mix your pamper time in with your regular shower time, and apply serum afterwards with a jade roller to relieve a little stress/tension.
👃Using a roller on your face in general just feels so right, relieves tension, improves circulation and is a lifesaver if you are prone to sinus infections like me.
💪Roll out your muscles or stretch extra (especially after a hard workout), use a wand massager or give yourself a mini massage (especially if I have a headache, I'll apply a little headache relief blend of oils and massage it into my temples - I legit carry this in my purse so I can do this at any onset of headache) on your forehead, hands or feet.
🛄Organize and declutter spaces you spend time
👀Read (a chapter, a poem, a paragraph - something)
🎹After a hard workout, recover your muscles with recovery balm while listening to soothing relaxing music.
⌚Do a relaxing breathing exercise (using a smartwatch or following a YouTube video)
📎Post your favorite quote that brings you back to center and read it
😃LAUGH (there are so many benefits and release that comes with this).
🐦Get into nature or observe nature (bird watch, or take in what you hear, see, touch, hear and smell)
🏃Do a 10 minute or less exercise challenge or just move your body in general.
👄Affirm yourself (say something positive or give yourself applause for an accomplishment, etc.).
Really, the list grows as you stop to think about what you could do for yourself that you would enjoy. Try to make it a game, which takes it from another to-do on that scroll to something fun that you look forward to. I promise you, this little tweak can make all the difference. What do you love? Start there and incorporate it at least once a month. Then, aim for twice a month, once a week, etc. I love to find ways to get two of these in, when possible. Build momentum until it becomes a habit and then never break that habit! YOU are worth it! I hope you'll be inspired to take some time for yourself TODAY!
If you would like to join my next virtual pampering session, click here for all the details.
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