5 Steps to Self-Care

“Self-care is not selfish. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.” Eleanor Brownn said that and it’s true, self-care is a very important part of life!

Do you take care of everyone else before you take care of yourself? Do you find yourself trying to do it all and then beating yourself up when you can’t?

That doesn’t serve you or anyone else. Again, you can’t serve from an empty vessel.

Before you get stressed out and overwhelmed with all sorts of planning, family activities, parties, shopping, and so forth, would you consider making time for you?

Put You On Your Schedule

It may sound ridiculous, but if you are driven by your schedule, scheduling time for yourself on your calendar can really work for you.

Block out an hour daily, or even every other day, for something that you find relaxing. AND THEN STICK TO IT. Don’t allow yourself to reschedule you! You are much more important than any client!

Taking care of you can have the greatest RIO (return on investment) that there is … sustaining you! Recharging yourself improves your physical, mental and emotional state and well-being.

Avoid Repetitious Activities

Some people choose to perform the same activity day after day, and, after a few months, they get bored and stop.

If that sounds like you, then try varying your daily routine. You may even go so far as not doing the same thing on the same weekday two weeks in a row.

It’s important to keep yourself engaged so you stick with it.

Just Stop

Yes, just stop! Stop running around like a mad person, stop taking care of everyone else. Just stop for a few minutes! Put the phone down, move away from the computer and maybe even move away from other people to give yourself a little space. Then close your eyes and breathe.

Closing your eyes helps block out the rest of the world. You can be somewhere else when you close your eyes.

Breathing centers you, it allows you to release tension and brings calm to your body. Let the tension flow out as you breathe out, now breathe in calm and relaxation. Repeat a few more times. Better?

Write

Many people find writing or journaling to be a relaxing and sometimes very eye-opening. When you drift along with the writing, it opens your mind to things you had overlooked or perhaps forgotten. Subtle and even profound revelations can come from writing.

Be in Nature

Being in nature, whether walking, riding a bike or just sitting, can reduce your stress hormone levels, deceases depression, decrease negative thoughts and energize you or even relax you so you can take a nap. In fact a recent study (well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/07/22/how-nature-changes-the-brain) showed that walking in nature changes the blood flow in the brain to improve moods.

Self-care is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself. Allowing that recharge gives you more energy for you and more enjoyment of life.

You deserve it.

Do it today!!

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