Practice Self-Care

First of all, self-care has nothing to do with being selfish! Self-care should be a very important part of your daily routine that will enable you to BE the best version of yourself and to DO your best. Imagine you were not your best? How could you possibly be good for the people around you, your partner, your children, your friends, coworkers…? That is why it is so important and necessary to take care of yourself first before you can take care of others. If you are a mom and you are not at your best, your family cannot be at their best either. And you want the best for them, don’t you? Well then, start taking care of yourself! Make sure that you take time for yourself every day. Do something you enjoy. Here are a few ideas:

·         Exercise (run, ride a bike, play tennis, swim…)

·         Do yoga, meditate, relax, stretch, take a bubble bath, go for a walk…

·         Get a massage, a manicure, a pedicure, a spa treatment, face mask…

·         Read a book, watch a movie, listen to your favorite music

·         Play with your dog, take your friend’s/neighbors’ dog for a walk…

·         Learn something (knitting, planting, investing money, language, instrument…)

·         Declutter or organize (clean out your closet and donate clothes you haven’t worn in a year…)

·         Game night with friends or family

·         Candlelight dinner with your partner

·         Stop comparing yourself to others

·         Learn to appreciate what you have

·         Be grateful every day

·         Forget about your phone and social media for a few hours

·         Prepare a healthy meal for yourself and/or friends/family

·         Write a list of things you love about yourself, about your life

·         Write a list of things you would like to improve on yourself, in your life and think of ideas how you can achieve them

·         Surround yourself with people who inspire you

·         Go on a little road trip

·         Enjoy some time alone

·         Breathe deeply

·         Sign up for a class you want to take (painting, computer programming…)

·         Sit at a beach or lake or meadow and watch the sunset

·         Write a bucket list of things you would like to do and places you would like to visit

…and if all else fails, pop some bubble wrap for instant gratification. LOL

You can’t pour from an empty cup… Only when you are solid and balanced you can give to others and help them. Picture a bucket full of water. The bucket is heavy and can’t be tipped over easily (as in you “being solid and balanced”). Now you can use the water and distribute it into other buckets (as in you “giving to others and helping them”). Once the bucket is empty it doesn’t need much and the bucket can be pushed over (as in once you “are drained you can be thrown off balance easily”). Time to refill the bucket. Best: don’t let the bucket become empty! Recharge yourself when you feel less energetic or stressed and anxious or fed up and irritably. Yourself and the people around you will appreciate that.