It was 4:30 AM and I was on the road, again. It was the second time that week. This combined with a few twelve hour work days and a few 7am “at the office” starts, I felt tired and a bit over worked. I thought, “Isn’t strange that things all seem to happen at once?” Thankfully, all good stuff, yet I was taxed and tired. I needed a break. The schedule was not to allow it for at least another week. Something tells me I am not alone in this sort of experience... Following up on the last post of offering yourself a treat when you accomplish goals, I found that I what needed was some serious self care, even in the midst of business, busy-ness. Sometimes, I can be super hard on myself pushing, pushing, pushing and not taking time to rest or do things just for me. So, I tried this: I scheduled in some down time. And I realized, or noticed afterwards....when I take time to take care of myself, I feel more Energized and I am more Productive!” Other times, it’s not the busy that makes me crazed, but the insomnia. I don’t know about you but, sometimes sleep completely evades me. And the next day, I am a zombie! Recently, I was feeling exhausted, yet, I really wanted to exercise. I kept going back and forth in my mind, “Exercise? Nap? Exercise? Nap?” Ahhhh, the couch won out! Get this, though. I gave myself completely over. I set the timer for twenty minutes. When I woke, I laid there in a sleepy daze; but as the room came into focus and the sun streamed in, I suddenly felt more alive, than I had ALL day! Then, I didn’t work out. Instead, I walked my super snuggly dog. And that felt even better than the work out! Still, that little guilt squeaked ...”You NEED to work out.” I thanked the voice and promised, “I’ll do it tomorrow.” Then, I just let it go. The guilt subsided but the good vibrations from self care zoomed! I felt relaxed and rested. This felt like something that was sustainable. Later that evening, I had the energy to finish a letter and pay the bills. I didn’t even feel resentful! The self care I had performed early was still surging. I look at it like this, there are far too many have to's. And sometimes I resent have to’s. If I can balance them with want to's and rest, I feel more balanced and overall more peaceful. So, what else can count as self care? I say anything You count as self care is self care.... Taking a nap, daydreaming for 5 minutes, sleeping in an extra half hour, walking in the sunshine or the rain, watching your favorite show, getting a massage, taking a class, singing in the shower, talking on the phone with a friend, beauty treatments that make you feel good about you, journaling, or ????. Yes, my friends, self care is a must. It not only feels great in the moment it makes our personal lives more fulfilling and our business lives more productive.
