Self care: You can’t pour from an empty cup
September is national self care awareness month! It is a great reminder to take care of you before everything else. We neglect ourselves and tend to put others’ needs first. There are many variations of self care and each person has their own perception of what self care looks like for them. There are certain things you should do to improve both your mental and physical health. It is impossible to pour from an empty cup and remember self care is not selfish!
Self Care Tips:
Try a relaxing activity
Again, this looks different for everyone. It starts with scheduling “me time” for yourself. Whether you plan a hiking trip or something as simple as lighting candles and running yourself a bath, as long as it helps you reset and recharge it is a self care activity. Take some time and create a list of activities (top 12 for example) that you can incorporate in your weekly routine to keep the balance.
Set goals and priorities
Self care is a great way to cope with daily stressors that occur from trying to balance home and work life.We don’t want to wait until burnout occurs to start the practice of self care. Burnout occurs over time when you experience excessive and prolonged stress. You become overwhelmed and lose motivation and desire to do even the smallest tasks. To avoid burnout, first learn how to prioritize your tasks. Most importantly, learn to say no so that you don't take on more than you can handle. Once the day is complete, focus more on your accomplishments and less on what you were unable to do.
Positive Self Talk
Typically we are our worst critics and much harder on ourselves than we would be on anyone else. When we are struggling we should treat ourselves the way we would a friend in the same situation. The way we talk, our tone of voice, the words we choose, and the kindness expressed should be the exact same. We have to be mindful when speaking to ourselves just as we would when speaking with a friend.
Self Care Examples
If you’re feeling like you don't have time to implement your practices, schedule the time. Take an hour in the morning or afternoon for YOU! Reduce some daily tasks or chores so that you have this time available. Get out your notebook or planner and reclaim your time while taking care of you. StickWithCatie is releasing our “Self Care 2.0” release Friday, September 1st that is filled with quotes, affirmations, and even journaling prompts that will remind you to put yourself first and reduce the risk of burnout.