So I ran into a friend at Target yesterday. I was there shopping for home supplies and she was in line for her prescription. I walked toward her to hug her but she paused me — ‘pneumonia…’ she whispered hoarsely.
This friend, I’ll call her ‘Kay’ is one of the most inspiring people I know. She had a vision to make a change in her community and not only did she rally the community behind her idea, she got government and community leaders behind it as well. This vision is becoming a reality. And the entire city and county in fact will benefit from Kay’s idea.
Kay will go down in history of our area as being THE WOMAN who brought value to our kids, tourism to our area and tax dollars to our city.
She’s my hero!
This summer Kay’s vision moved forward very significantly. There was an outward showing for the community. The public could see this idea become a reality.
When I saw her at the public showing- she said that her whole summer had been spent for the most part in getting ready for this preview. Her little kids, her inspiration for this vision and this idea were a big part of helping her. This was their summer.
This woman doesn’t stop. She at everything. She’s networking, doing 1:1 visits and volunteering at places that will help increase visibility for her vision, she’s doing all the right things!
AND
She’s running on fumes.
When life is that busy, it’s easy to continually put yourself on the back burner.
Because self care feels selfish!
I’ll sleep when I’m dead!
I’ll rest after my vision is a reality.
I can’t let my family down.
I can’t let my community down.
People are expecting me to be the face of the organization/project/company.
Sound familiar?
Some version of this is always going through our heads.
Until our body collapses in sheer exhaustion.
It’s almost always the case that after a big event, project, presentation etc. we experience major exhaustion.
Our body carries us through the process, but then the minute it’s done—
Collapse.
Illness.
Fatigue so deep that you can’t move.
Complete system shut down.
Your body has been carrying you on adrenaline the entire time.
You’re way past normal functions, your mind is in flight or flight and fighting for survival!
And once you release the breath breath you’ve been holding your mind recognizes that the danger is passed and it can relax.
And it does.
Every cell
Every nerve ending
Every emotion
Releases
Relaxes
Collapses
Takes you out of the game for a while.
Or a long while.
So how do you avoid complete collapse?
Make your self care non negotiable. It doesn’t have to be complex, you don’t have to spend hours on yourself. But you can.
Go ahead, I give you permission.
30 minutes a day is all it can take.
Breathe: before starting your car, take three deep breaths. Before exiting your car do it again.
Walk: one mile can take you less than 15 minutes. If that’s not an option, find a way to move your body. Park as far from your destination as you can – and walk.
Hydrate: (water not coffee!) aspire to drink 1/2 your body weight in oz. e.g. a 130 lb person would be drinking 65oz.
Nourish: higher intake of lean protein keeps you full longer and gives you sustained energy. A plant based protein shake blended with berries, greens and a good source of fat (think avocado or nut butter) is an ideal breakfast for the dats when you don’t have time to sit and eat a good meal.
Sleep: 7 hours at least
And probably the single most important thing is to have intention.
Don’t make your self care another checklist item on your to-do list.
Promise yourself that you will care for you.
So that you can care for your family, community and the world.
And yes, it feels like if you do these things for yourself you’re stealing time from other more productive things you could be doing.
I can promise you this.
Time.Shows.Up
The Breathing Space 