Do you have a self care plan as a part of your daily routine?
Life is insanely busy for most us, and if we aren’t careful, it can quickly lead to being overwhelmed, overworked, and exhausted. There is no badge of honor for this, but somehow we end up working ourselves to death as if there is one. Our days and nights become so packed with work and obligations, and caring for our families, that there is little room left for us. We live our lives, but we don’t enjoy them as much as we could.
How do we stop this cycle? The only answer is to take time for self care. The opportunity for self care will not present itself, this is something we have to prioritize for ourselves. If we allow it, life will continue to demand all of our time, our effort, and our talent until there is nothing left for us but an endless to-do list and a constant sense of frustration.
Do you have a self-care plan in place?
It is time for you to seize on the necessity of creating a self-care plan and do so. There are certain elements that you will need to include, and I want you to think about them as you are developing what works best for you. No two people have the same self-care needs, and while this plan provides a guideline, there are things you may need to add to it to fulfill all of your needs. Don’t be afraid to do that.
Make time for exercise
Exercise is one of those things that many of us don’t like, but we need to do it anyway. Getting exercise is one of the first things that goes by the wayside when our schedules become too packed. My family bought me a bicycle a few years ago and I won’t tell you how long it sat unused. Why? It takes time away from our work, and it feels as though we are taking time that should be spent on other things and using it selfishly. This isn’t true. Exercise is taking care of the best asset you have: your body. When you take the time to take care of your body, you will sleep better, have more energy during the day, and be less anxious and irritable. You aren’t stealing time from your schedule; you are giving yourself the tools you need to do your best work.
Go to sleep/wake up at the same time every day
When your schedule is packed so tightly that you don’t know what you’ll be able to do to manage it daily, going to sleep and waking up at the same time every day is almost laughable. Sleep? What’s that? When we don’t sleep regularly, we are setting ourselves up for failure. If you aren’t well rested, your mind feels cloudy and hazy. Instead of being more productive because you have more hours in the day, you’ll find that you become less productive, and crabby. Crabby people are not fun to be around. Try setting an alarm that lets you know when it is time to get ready for bed and work towards getting sleep at the same time every day.
Feed yourself good things
When we are too busy, we tend not to eat well. Junk food and fast food are full of salt, sugar and grease that can take its toll on our health quickly if we aren’t careful. If your body doesn’t have the nutrients it needs, it cannot perform for you. Make it a point to get nutritious food and give your body good things. Go out and try new fruits and vegetables. Create a new meal plan to get your eating habits on track.
Stay away from negativity
Negative people are a drain on your productivity and your sense of wellbeing. There is always one person who is determined to be a downer, despite our best efforts to encourage them. Soon enough, we find that we are feeling negative ourselves. It is very important to your self-care routine that you avoid negative people and negative situations. Surrounding yourself with positivity will only help you in the long run.
Self care is not always easy, but it is necessary if you are going to get what you need to be happy. It is essential to pour into yourself so you can full your cup to care for and nurture others. Change up your routine to make the time you need to take care of yourself. You deserve to feel your best and get your necessary rest every day. Prioritize your self care, and you’ll find those feelings of being overwhelmed become nothing but a distant memory.
Michelle D. Garrett is the founder of Divas With A Purpose.
She focuses on sharing resources for being purposely productive; setting personal and professional goals and achieving them through daily action; and successfully running a business while focusing on your mental health. Michelle is a full-time entrepreneur who specializes in teaching female entrepreneurs how to show up consistently in their business – online and off.
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