Thanks to all the pressures we face in life, women often put themselves at the bottom of the list of priorities by saying things like “I will <<insert luscious self care activity here>> when… the laundry is done, when the kids are fed, when my partner is taken care of, when there is more time in my busy schedule.” If you continue to wait for a time to care for yourself, you will always be left wanting.
It doesn’t need to require a lot of time to prioritize yourself on a daily basis. It can be as simple as dedicating 15 minutes a day for writing in a journal, dancing to your favorite music, or taking a shower with your favorite bath oils. And rest assured, this won’t take away from your productivity or ability to show up for others, it will actually enhance it.
You are worth making the effort for your own self-preservation. It is a beautiful thing to care for those around us but we can’t give from an empty tank. The following tips are just a few simple ways to fill your tank and find your way back to you.
Tips for prioritizing yourself today…
- Watch how you talk to yourself. Be kind and gentle with yourself by acknowledging that you (and everyone around you) are doing your very best given the circumstances.
- Be realistic about what can get done in a day. Take your to-do list and cut it in half (by focusing on what is most important and/or delegating tasks that others can do instead of you). When you accomplish things on your shortened to-do list then celebrate that accomplishment.
- Eat right for your own needs. Sometimes the people around you eat differently than you do and it can feel hard to put the extra effort into making sure you have food that is nourishing for YOUR body. Although it can seem easier to just grab takeout or go along with what everyone else is having, take a moment to think about how you are going to feel afterwards, remember that your health is worth it, and do your best to choose foods that enliven you and make you feel great. (This can even be quick and easy with a little planning to prep veggies ahead of time, order healthy meal delivery kits, or cook in batches so you have leftovers on especially busy days).
- Get off social media. Physiologically we are not meant to take in vast amounts of information, especially the distressing bad news from around the world. Limit your exposure by setting a time for 5-10 minutes per day to keep up with what is happening in the world. Practice good boundaries and avoid going down the social media rabbit hole.
- Sleep! We all need adequate sleep each night to allow our bodies and brains to restore themselves. Even if you feel tempted to stay up another hour or two to get another project done, you can actually accomplish more the next day if you allow yourself to rest. Set a bedtime and spend the 30-60 minutes before that winding yourself down.
Could you use more help putting this all into action more consistently? We warmly invite you to schedule a complimentary “Vitality Discovery Call” so we can get to know you and help you figure out your best next steps from here.
