Have you ever given something so much time and attention that it became a problem? And contrary, have you ever neglected something so greatly it became an even bigger problem? Lets dive into something that could easily fall into either of those categories…lets talk SELF-CARE!
Such a buzzword recently, self-care can mean so many different things. I am going to keep it super surface and define it as the habits and things that keep us from looking and feeling a HOT mess. All this can easily become all-consuming and create unnecessary distraction or a false sense of happiness. That is NOT our goal. Likewise, if you have gone years neglecting yourself (for a career, caring for kids, etc.) your lack of self-care I am sure is negatively affecting you. Want to know the secret to keeping it in the middle? ROUTINE!! Okay, there are more like three secrets: ROUTINE, SUSTAINABILITY and MOTIVATION.
ROUTINE
It is the secret sauce to life as an adult (generally speaking) and the category of self-care is not exempt. Having a routine that is specific to you and works with your schedule is key. This routine and the habits should be something you start to look forward to, things that not only keep the hot mess wolf away from the door but also leave you feeling refreshed!
Wednesday is the day I typically do weekly “preventative maintenance” (for a lack of a better term). It’s the day I have the least going on and I am at our house most of the day. An example of how I weave this into my day looks like this: I wake up, remove my old nail polish, shower, apply a self tanner after, give my nails a quick coat, pop in a Whitestrip and carry on with my day in yoga pants while everything dries and processes. It typically takes me thirty minutes. I have a daily morning and evening routine involving a few simple, inexpensive products. I also have a routine for health. I workout 3-4 times a week and take some daily supplements. More to come on that in future posts.
SUSTAINABILITY
A self-care routine (be it daily, weekly or monthly) should be sustainable. The goal is to make this a regular thing. The products you use, the money you spend and the time it takes needs to be a part of your financial budget and work with your schedule. We are a military family, unique in a way because we have not had to move very much. But life gets shaken up often and our family dynamic can change on a dime as my husband comes and goes with his job. Jumping in and out of the role of a single parent is hard. The first thing on the list to go for most people would probably be self-care. If the routine is easy enough you will hold on to it, and it will really help you! I chose products that are simple and agree with me. Tan towels, one-step night cream, easy DIY my hair and nail color but all are simple, budget friendly and I can order everything on Amazon. No matter where we live or travel to, how busy I get, or how our budget ebbs or flows… my self-care is SUSTAINABLE!!!
MOTIVATION
No matter what season of life you are in, I encourage you to stop today and evaluate how you are caring for yourself and the ripple effect (positive or negative) that has on your life. Your confidence, ability to focus on those who need you, energy level, overall health – are all things that should MOTIVATE you to incorporate a healthy level of self-care into your life. I love the quote by unknown “If you don’t take care of your body where will you live?” Obviously, there are many other parts and types of self-care, but the little simple things that keep our physical shell up and running well can be easily accomplished when the right motivation is found. At the end of the day, whether it’s a corporate setting, a stay at home mom setting, a volunteer setting… we all want to show up and give our best! This includes looking and feeling your best. What few, small things can you start doing to better care for yourself no matter where you live or what season of life you are growing in? Want to know more about my go-to products? I would love to put together a post!! Let me know in the comments below.
Chat and stay a while.
Live well and FINISH STRONG,
Lisa
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Love it! Such a good way to take care of yourself and your family!