You’re so busy that reading this takes too long. And when you’re getting your nails done or trying to meditate, all you can think about is the 50 million things you should be doing instead.
Yet, you know you’re supposed to take care of yourself. It’s not even a luxury, you know it in measurements: your annual check-ups, your blood tests, in the way that you’ve been forgetting things lately or being too snippy with your husband and your kids.
You saw a photo of yourself recently-that carefree girl who laughed not just daily, but multiple times a day. The one who believed in love and never thought about things like death or taxes. Where did she go? How did you lose her along the way?
I think becoming a caregiver creeps up on us. First we devote ourselves to our partner, then our kids and finally our parents. There’s never time to take care of ourselves.
There are still ways to stretch the time, to get the most bang for a buck by doing the small things, every day that add up to a well-cared for life. Here are six. Choose wisely.
- Create non-negotiables and stick to them. This means if your toxic relative is making you feel sick, you stop hanging out with them or you commit to weekly or even monthly moments to yourself. You discover what’s most important to you even if it’s simply drinking a full glass of water upon waking, and you actually do it.
- Do not check your email first thing in the morning. There is a habit we’ve all adopted since we’ve gotten techie. It’s this need to open our email box while lying in bed. Maybe we think there’s something tantalizing in there or we’ll get more done if we do it. But starting your day that way gives away your power to other people because how often our emails about us? Schedule a time, once per day, to check your email and that’s it. No peeking.
- Stop eating late at night. I used to eat late a night and it became a habit. It was a way to unwind and destress from the day. It also led to difficulty sleeping and digesting. It gave me terrifying bouts of reflux and nightmares, and weight gain. It kept me awake and triggered insomnia. I’m not saying this will grow you wealth and happiness. But then again, not rising your blood sugar late at night and sleeping better are pretty good reasons to try.
- Take a mindful pause. I interviewed many experts who told me to check in with my breathing. Many of us, they said, breathe shallowly from our chest instead of diaphragm. Not until I developed issues with my own breathing that I began paying attention. I didn’t realize how detrimental it is to our body and emotional state of being to breath through our chest. Now I check in.
- Be in your body. We’re often rushing from one task to the next willing our body to get through hunger pangs or bathroom breaks. We treat our body like toddlers. When it throws a tantrum, we lure it with a treat or scold it to keep going. Instead close your eyes and be present in your body. How do you feel? Are you hot? Do you feel tension in your shoulders? Are you tired and maybe want to go to sleep? Instead of pushing, listen and then do the thing you’re not apt to do-actually follow what it’s saying and see what happens.
- Spend time in nature. Even if your nature is a small patch of grass. Even if you’re barefoot on your lawn for ten minutes. The more time you spend outside whether it’s near an ocean or inside a forest, the better you will feel. Somehow the things that are eating us up inside, the dramas, and the worries, melt away in light of nature. It’s a greatest healer, teacher and counselor. Allow yourself time to be inspired by the trees.
Do them guiltless. Do it with ease. Remember you deserve all the things you wish for your children and loved ones. It’s a small sacrifice, an ounce of your day. A small tiny self-care practice, however, can make your life.