“We have so much coming in as sisters, when is our interior life ever put at the forefront. We constantly want to give to other people. The word no is important. It’s self-abuse. Too much of not caring for yourself is not a good thing. We’re bad at that as achievers. Self-care is a priority and we have to do it more.”
-Ava DuVernay
How does the quote above resonate with you?
Let’s PAUSE here, free yourself from distraction for a moment:
...take a deep exaggerated breath in... exhale slowly... deep breath in... exhale slowly... deep breath in... exhale slowly... calm your mind and be present...
What does self-care mean to you?
...think about that and formulate an answer before you read on...
self-care | noun the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one's own health. the practice of taking an active role in protecting one's own well-being and happiness, in particular during periods of stress.
Self-care is any activity that we do deliberately in order to take care of our mental, emotional, and physical health. Good self-care is key to improved mood and reduced anxiety. It's also leads to a better relationship with oneself and others.
On a scale of 1 - 10, how important is self-care to you?
self-care is crucial for our physical, emotional and mental well-being:
Know your worth: Self-care is important to maintain a healthy relationship with yourself... it produces positive feelings, boosts, confidence and self-esteem. A necessary reminder to you and others that your needs are important too.
A healthy work-life balance: Overwork, and the accompanying stress and exhaustion lowers productivity. It can also lead to all sorts of health problems, from anxiety and depression to insomnia and heart diseases. Professional self-care habits ensure that you stay sharp, motivated and healthy.
Stress management: Constant stress and anxiety can have an adverse effect on your mental and physical health. Smart self-care habits cut down the toxic effects of stress by improving your mood and boosting your energy and confidence levels.
Start living, stop existing: Life is a precious gift. It’s important to remember that taking care of yourself is YOUR responsibility. SELF-care is essential for your daily happiness. Developing good self-care habits can make your life more purposeful by giving you a new reason to get up in the morning.
Better physical health: Self-care is not just about your mental health. It’s also about caring for your physical self, by eating healthy, getting adequate sleep, caring about your hygiene, exercising regularly, etc.
What’s your self-care plan?
Today’s Challenge: Commit today to make self care a habit. Here are a few suggestions:
Set healthy boundaries. Learn to say “no” without guilt. You can’t be everything to everybody all the time.
Take a lunch break daily. You deserve it. Make it “work free” away from your desk. Take the time to decompress, recharge, and enjoy a healthy meal.
Make regular exercise a priority. It's easier than you think!
1. Stretch as soon as you wake up in the morning.
2. Take a 15 minute walk around the building mid-day (schedule it!)
3. Sign up for a class: yoga, Zumba, line dancing,.. just get moving
4. Jog or Run.. grab a friend or join a group that meets weekly.
5. Use your gym membership! 3 days a week minimum (LOL I'm guilty)
Share this challenge with at least 3 people and encourage them to do the same.
Be intentional and watch what happens...
You got this!
#selfcare, #youmatter. #responsibility, #youoweittoyourself, #prioritize, #leadbyexample, #learnandgrow, #yourchoice, #levelup, #beyoubutbetter, #justdoit, #focus, #plan, #letsgo
Coach Tavia
Related article: Practicing Self-care is Important
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