How do you do self-care amidst the many things going on in your life?
Different stages of life can feel fuller and busier than others. It is often during the most hectic parts of life that we need to adopt a self-care practice the most. Many of us can relate to the ongoing challenge of balancing a full life while not getting to the point of burn out. Often when time runs thin, the first thing to go is the time we have allotted for an activity that is just for ourselves.
I can certainly relate to this pattern in my life, but I’m learning that I am my only advocate and self-care is within my control. While it can seem like a good idea to attempt to do it all, it generally won’t be long before the bottom falls out. As life gets busy, if self-care is the first thing to go, our sense of balance and gratitude for life can very quickly become lost in the mix
Making a list of 20 things/activities that bring you joy can become a powerful tool to begin making self-care a habit again. It can be a resourceful way to bring a sense of balance back to your life. Keep your list where you can see it, perhaps near your computer, on your mirror or posted on your fridge (you could even make a screensaver). Then give yourself the gift of picking one or two of these things from your list every day to enjoy- commit to it. Some of the things on my list include: savouring a cup of coffee, enjoying an ocean view, going for a run, getting fresh air, reading with my kids, just to name a few. Have fun making your list so that it’s meaningful and personalized to you.
The next part is important, and that is to be sure that while you are doing these activities you really take them in and recognize that you are giving yourself a gift – remember to receive the gift and feel gratitude for that! Over time, the simple act of adding things to each day that bring you joy, is how we pave the way to creating a self-care practice that will stick.
Having a regular self-care practice softens the edges of a full life and can serve as a reminder to keep things in perspective. It can also help us to see and experience firsthand what a gift life truly is.
What about you, what things might you do on a regular basis as part of your self-care practice?
❤ Emily
#lovinglife
Sign up for updates with Emily’s featured articles, self-care tips and weekly inspiration and receive a free copy of ‘Self-Care Success’ by Emily Madill
If you are interested in connecting to who you are on a deeper level, or if you would like to create a self-care and self-love practice — come on over and join our growing community within my E-Course, ‘Fall In Love With Your Life, One Week at a Time’. It is a chance to create your own life practice in a way that is meaningful to you.❤
