By Ariel Colhoun Passionate about increasing the sphere of influence for women & driving positive change.
With the onset of the sudden and unanticipated global pandemic and the new 'norm' of staying home, the new unchartered scenarios we are finding ourselves in right now is incredibly stressful across the board. Millions upon millions of people are worrying about our loved ones, the loss of income, the educational impacts children no longer in school or daycare, the impacts on a global economic scale, and so much more. Many of us are faced with layers upon layers of stress that we have never encountered before, especially all at once. We need to recognize that we are not alone. We are all in this together and we need to learn to manage through all this increased stress currently added without getting us down and affecting our mental and physical well-being.
We all know the all-too-familiar saying ...
"You can't pour from an empty cup".
It's true. Have you tried it? It's impossible, so why do we try?
We try to pour from an empty cup for a number of reasons ... there are not enough hours in the day, we never put ourselves first, we have too many things on our 'to do' list and we often get put to the bottom, we don't have the time, we can't find the time, we are too tired to even notice there's nothing actually in the cup ... the list goes on and on.
Self-Care
Self-care is a critical part of your well-being and you will never be in a position to help anyone else if you don't put yourself first. More and more, we see so many women foregoing their needs in order to help everyone else in their lives and often but what ends up happening to us is that we end up with resentment, fatigue, pure exhaustion, and ultimately, total burnout. Before you allow all these negative aspects to inch their way into your life, focus on creating your very own self-care ritual.
Self-care includes everything in our daily lives, from minor habits to major lifestyle choices that influence our health and wellbeing. If you are shaping your personal self-care sense again, this idea may seem daunting. Luckily, you don't have to become a master of self-care immediately. The secret to starting small is.
You can start small by creating a self-care routine that consists of activities you can do to encourage a healthy and happier you, a great way to start small is. Reliable online tools can be a perfect place to kick-start your self-care ideas. Only keep in mind that something that works for someone else may not work for you, as self-care is personal.
Remember, self-care gives the world the best of you, rather than what's left of you.
5 Steps To Creating A Self-Care Ritual
1. Snackable moments - identify your needs daily.
What will make you happier? What will make you more calm? Dig down deep and ask yourself these questions. Do you need a few minutes of silence, reflection, or simply time to meditate? Sweat? Have a bath? Read? Listen to a podcast? Get more sleep or have a quick nap? What is it that your mind, body, and soul needs? Whatever it is, create a space for it - daily. And remember to create this space in 'snackable' moments - easy, bite-sized chunks of time dedicated just for you.
2. Decide if you have more time in the morning or the evening.
Are you a morning person or a night owl? When do you find yourself mentally in the best space or have the most time? Are there certain moments in the day you could extend a little and add a little extra time for you? Recognizing and acknowledging when you have the time to dedicate to self-care will help you to be able to stick to a self-care routine.
3. Create a dedicated space.
We are all about achievable methods, and one of the best ways to limit distractions is to create a dedicated space that enables you to be productive on work that requires higher levels of thought. Create a space that works specifically for you that puts you in your comfort zone - maybe add some plants, a cozy blanket, a few extra pillows, add some mementos such as photos, books or things that bring you to your happy place. Whatever you are looking to improve, create a space for that.
4. Make a commitment to yourself.
In order to realize the benefits of daily self-care rituals, you need to spend at least 10-15 minutes in your self-care space each day. 10-15 minutes may not seem to be enough but you will be pleasantly surprised the significant impact these 10-15 minutes will actually impact your life in the most positive way. It's so important to keep that connection with you. And as time passes, try extending the window of self-care by adding extra time when needed.
5. Give the world the best of you, rather than what's left of you.
It's time to focus on your own personal well-being and be mindful of your own responses - free of guilt and free of negative self-judgment or thoughts. You will be of no benefit to anyone if you run yourself down. Ensuring you take time each day for your own self-care is not only important for your well-being, but also for those around you.
And remember, please keep in touch and let us know how your self-care routine has worked for you!
All posts are intended strictly for educational purposes. It is not intended to make any representations or warranties about the outcome of any product/service.
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