Living a healthy life isn’t just about what you are eating, exercise and what supplements you take. It’s an overall vision of holistic wellness that focuses on emotional, mental, physical, spiritual and social health. I believe that it is just as important to work out your self-care muscles as it is your actual muscles! If you have not heard of The Circle of Life Concept, head over to read the blog post as it really speaks volumes in self-care.
If you are like me, you may find yourself at the very end of your priority list. We all have many varying responsibilities in our lives. From cleaning the house, work, children, pet’s, getting dinner on the table, paying bills, the list can seem endless! While you are tackling that long list, you may end up neglecting yourself. As hard as it may seem at first, we need to prioritize ourselves.
Something I learned from my business mentor Fabienne Fredrickson is that what you don’t schedule doesn’t get done. We’re familiar with this in our work life, but we need to apply this to our personal life as well. Schedule a date night with your spouse, a bi-monthly massage, Pilates classes 2-3 times a week, a walk with a friend, time for a manicure-pedicure, and even down time to sit with a good book and a cup of tea.
Don’t get me wrong, I have not figured it all out for myself. I am always a work in (imperfect) progress. Lately my daughter gets up at 6:30 am to babysit. Yes, a teenager who babysits from 6:50-7:50am 3-4 times a week. She leaves to go to work and I spend 15-25 minutes with a hot beverage and a good book. Currently, I’m reading Untamed by Glennon Doyle. I am loving it. The messages are very thought provoking and I highly recommend it.
Just as the flight attendants tell parents to put their own mask on first before that of their children, we need to fill our own cups first so we have more to give! My point here is that I want you to unequivocally let go of the notion that self-care is hedonistic and selfish. I believe that kids and family members should see you modeling self-care so they also will put it into practice themselves in many areas of their life. Your needs are equally important as that of your family and friends.
If you are new to building your self-care muscles, or want some support and motivation to prioritize YOU, I invite you to join me in this 11th Month for the 11 Day Self- Care Challenge. Click here to register and put it on your calendar today. It begins on November 12th.
Always With Your Health in Mind,
Linda
