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by Jeanette Wages
I own a spa, I teach about self-care, it must come naturally to me… I still struggle!
So stop beating yourself up, and let’s come up with a game plan to make sure you aren’t only taking care of yourself when things fall apart, but taking care of yourself all the time.
So many people wait until they “can’t function” before they look for ways to take care of themselves. Remember me? I was the one on the bathroom floor, I get it.
I all too often wait until my back hurts so badly that I can barely move to get a massage. I wait for that pre-event stress-induced breakout to get a facial. I have a nervous breakdown before getting reiki and seeing a therapist or coach, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
In this live-to-hustle society we live in, where being “busy” is glorified and taking time to take care of yourself is seen as a luxury or a waste, we want to flip the script. Self-care is not only good for you, it’s necessary! If you don’t think you have time to take some time for you, do you really think you have time to be exhausted when you really have nothing left to give?
Where do I start?
Step one: Make the decision that your mental and physical health are a priority. You are worth it. You deserve it. You need this.
Step two: Take some time to remember what recharges you. Listen to your body. Listen to your mind. What do you need? Self-care is going to look different for everyone. Maybe you need to travel someplace you’ve never been. Maybe you need to focus on healthy eating and exercise. You’ve been punish-ing yourself for not being the nicest to your skin or your muscles or your inner child. Got a picture in mind? Have a few? That’s ok. What your soul needs is going to change. What your mind needs is going to change. Keep listening and adjusting, just don’t give up on taking care of you.
Step three: Budget. This to me means two things — budgeting your time and budgeting your money.
Let’s start with time because that’s seems to be what every-one doesn’t have enough of and this was the game-changer for me. Setting boundaries around your time is crucial to this part of self-care. Look at your calendar and decide that X time is YOUR TIME and use that time to recharge and be you, set a day to play and set time to center. For some, centering will be every morning or evening, some want a night out once a week, get a spa service once a month or plan a weekend away.
Whatever you decide, ink it into your calendar and hold that space for yourself guilt-free, because you need to be the best you can in all the other parts of your life. As far as financial budgeting goes, figure out what works with your lifestyle, needs and bank account. I
love to travel, but sadly I don’t have the time or finances to do an elaborate trip every month but I can plan one big trip and a couple weekends that I drive somewhere new and explore. Getting a membership at a spa or health club like The Wellness Cooperative can be a great way to save money and make sure you plan to have at least one hour for you every month.
Step four: Rinse and repeat. Keep doing these things until you feel whole, healthy and happy… And then keep doing them. Self-care is not just for when you’re falling apart. Bring it into your routine and see how a sustainable self-care habit changes your life.
This sponsored content is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice.
