How Well Are You Taking Care Of Yourself?

Issue #21

This past weekend, I attended my final collaboration event of the year – a Mommie Shower thrown by a nurse who’s advocating for better care for moms after they leave the hospital with newborn babies. The event included speakers (a midwife and child psychologist) and local female entrepreneurs in the holistic and self-care space.

While my “baby” is now 20, sitting in a room filled with moms, listening to the stories and statistics, I was quickly reminded of what those first few years were like and how important self-care truly is.

If you’re a mom, you know how easy it is to slip to the bottom of your own list, or even fall off of it altogether. And as women, we often shoulder the responsibilities of “mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend” without a second thought. But, when we don’t take care of our ourselves, we’re not only doing ourselves a disservice, but also those that love and care for us as well.

So here’s today’s reminder….

Self-Care is Not Selfish

I’ve heard it several times now in several different ways, but I think we’re all familiar with the phrase “my cup runneth over.” Here’s the key that we often miss – your cup has to be full to run over. It’s not selfish to take care of yourself – it’s self-full, and how you keep your cup full. And we’re not supposed to pour from our cup to help others, but rather share the overflow that results from our own needs being met first (and yes, I’m talking to myself on this one as well).

As we get closer to the holiday season, with work deadlines before we all take some much needed time off, and family engagements that will take us through to the New Year, do yourself a favor and block out some time in your calendar just for YOU. Then I need you to tell those around you who may be impacted (they’ll survive) and honor it.

Grab that book you’ve been meaning to read and head to a coffee shop (or the library – much quieter) and spend an hour getting lost in another world. Make an appointment for some pampering (mani, pedi, massage, etc.) and leave the world behind for an hour while you rest and refresh. Take a drive to a place that always makes you smile and simply breathe for a bit. Whatever it is that works for you, make it a part of your routine before the year is up, and then keep it up in the New Year.

Everyone in your life deserves the best version of you, and the only way to do that is to make sure you’re getting the love and self-care that you need. ❤️

With you on the journey…