3 self care commitments

When things get busy, it's amazing how quickly self care can go out the window. Why is this important? The way we take care of ourselves has a huge impact on our personal wellbeing, our ability to live life to the full and make change happen, and our relationships with others. If you're not eating well and only getting 5 hours sleep a night, chances are your energy is going to suffer. It might feel manageable - and in periods of stress we might feel we need to operate like this for a short while - but it is not sustainable. 

Think of self care in 4 categories:

REST: the amount of sleep and down-time you give yourself to relax and recover;

NUTRITION: putting the right things into your body so you have the energy you need to thrive (not just survive);

NOURISHMENT: feeling loved, appreciated and cared for starts with you, how do you speak to yourself when you run into challenges, reward yourself when you've done well and treat yourself when you're feeling run down;

STIMULATION: physical exercise is essential for keeping our bodies and minds in good working order, but mental stimulation and growth are also important - how can you challenge yourself and keep learning. 

If it helps, think of yourself as a small child that needs to be cared for, loved and nourished in order to grow. Notice and appreciate how you feel in your mind and body. How might you treat yourself differently to how you are now? 

What 3 things can you commit to starting this week that will help you look after you better? Remember, looking after yourself is not selfish, it's essential. Tip: put these things in your diary at the start of the week, or even for the weeks ahead, so they don’t slip when you get busy.

The art of being 'unbusy'

The last six months have been all about balance and finding more time to do the things I love. After a few health issues I realised how tired I was of always striving to fit more in. With a City job, aspiring business ideas, wide-ranging hobbies and social activities there was never enough time to do it all. I constantly felt like I was rushing onto the next thing, and not taking any of it in. It had been that way for nearly a decade and I was exhausted. So I made some changes. 

I started by negotiating to go down to two days a week at work by covering a project that didn't need full time support (my company saved some money as they didn't need someone full time, so it was win-win). I took up mindfulness and did yoga classes at lunchtime. I took our family dog for long walks on Monday afternoons. I had massages and 'me' days. I went to workshops and learned new things. I read books for pleasure again. I visited art galleries and picked up a paint brush for the first time in years. I got back into horse riding, something which really makes my heart sing every time I visit the stables. I fell in love with my life - and myself - through doing the things I dearly love. 

And paradoxically, I now find there is space for more and more. It's as if time has expanded to become limitless. Weeks feel like months as I reflect on all the things I have done, although I still feel decidedly 'unbusy'. Letting go of the need to do everything 'now' allows me to do and enjoy just one thing instead. 

There is a place in my life for everything I do. All the things in my life - even the City job - are there because I've chosen them, and that's a very powerful sentiment indeed.