| Hey there Herd Sis, What does self-care look like for you? I ask that because it’s so personal that it must vary from person to person. Your self care might look very different from mine. It also might look very different from the person you were decades ago…. Or even the person you were pre-COVID, just one year ago. For example, my self-care regimen today looks like the following: Squeezing in rounds of yoga before work, hiking on the weekend, getting enough sleep, meditating, keeping up with loved ones, getting solo time, spending time outdoors as much as possible no matter what the weather and eating healthy. |  |
If I asked my 20-something year old self what her self-care regimen looked like, here is what she’d say:
“Running 3 miles most days, squeezing in a mix of step classes and cardio kickboxing at lunch on others, healthy eating, socializing with friends, getting outside on sunny days, avoiding winter at all costs, getting regular facials and weekly blowouts.”
I sometimes wonder what she would think or say if I told her yoga would be her primary source of exercise or that meditation would become her saving grace from many of life’s stressors.
Or that living through a pandemic taught me that getting outside in nature, even in frigid temps, could elevate my mood and energy like a sweat-worthy step class.
She might roll her eyes at that last one but otherwise, I don’t think younger Carolyn would be terribly surprised.
Even in just this past year alone, my self-care shifted to include more solo time, something that I have come to learn and appreciate, is critical to my well-being.
This means getting up before sunrise to sip on a warm beverage and feel like I have the house to myself.
It also means lingering in my car in the driveway as I catch up with a friend on a call that no one inside my house can interrupt. Thank God for seat warmers!
How about you?
What does your self-care practice look like today? How does it compare to your former one?
Developing a self-care practice requires a level of mindfulness and introspection. It begs the question(s):
The answers are likely not the same today as it was for your former self.
Self-care is not about doing or being more (my 20-something-year-old-self definitely did not get that) or checking off a list of boxes.
It also is not about “shoulds” or fixing things. You are not a machine and you are not broken.
It's about tuning in to your UHmazing, kickass-self, recognizing what you need, and allowing yourself to have it.
Self-care is a celebration where you are the superstar guest of honor AND the gracious host.
Party for one, please! How apropos given our current social distancing guidelines! It is a celebration of YOU.
Are you celebrating yourself today?
If your answer is unclear or that you are not, it’s okay. It’s never too late to dial in to your unique needs and dial up your self care routine.
This is not a boat you can miss; your self-care practice is a luxury liner docked safely in the harbor of your life waiting patiently for you to board.
Much like a luxury cruise, a curated and evolving practice of self-care can empower you to function at your best, replenish your reserves, and provide clarity to do everything from making smarter decisions, to helping others.
And believe me, those living with you will stand to benefit from your self-care practice as well.
Listen, life can change a lot from one year to the next. One thing that should never waiver is your commitment to YOU.
As always, please share your responses in the comments below. We can all benefit from sharing with one another. If self-care is critical to one’s wellbeing, collectively, it can elevate our entire Herd.
Lots of love,
Carolyn
p.s. We are hosting our first Sister Talk of 2021 on this very topic! Join us on Wednesday, March 24th at 7 PM EST via Zoom as we explore various holistic self-care techniques with Jane Ann, LMT and certified Reiki and Unergi Body Psychotherapy Practitioner. Click here for details.
“Running 3 miles most days, squeezing in a mix of step classes and cardio kickboxing at lunch on others, healthy eating, socializing with friends, getting outside on sunny days, avoiding winter at all costs, getting regular facials and weekly blowouts.”
I sometimes wonder what she would think or say if I told her yoga would be her primary source of exercise or that meditation would become her saving grace from many of life’s stressors.
Or that living through a pandemic taught me that getting outside in nature, even in frigid temps, could elevate my mood and energy like a sweat-worthy step class.
She might roll her eyes at that last one but otherwise, I don’t think younger Carolyn would be terribly surprised.
Even in just this past year alone, my self-care shifted to include more solo time, something that I have come to learn and appreciate, is critical to my well-being.
This means getting up before sunrise to sip on a warm beverage and feel like I have the house to myself.
It also means lingering in my car in the driveway as I catch up with a friend on a call that no one inside my house can interrupt. Thank God for seat warmers!
How about you?
What does your self-care practice look like today? How does it compare to your former one?
Developing a self-care practice requires a level of mindfulness and introspection. It begs the question(s):
- What makes me feel good?
- What helps me be a more confident, healthier, happier version of myself?
The answers are likely not the same today as it was for your former self.
Self-care is not about doing or being more (my 20-something-year-old-self definitely did not get that) or checking off a list of boxes.
It also is not about “shoulds” or fixing things. You are not a machine and you are not broken.
It's about tuning in to your UHmazing, kickass-self, recognizing what you need, and allowing yourself to have it.
Self-care is a celebration where you are the superstar guest of honor AND the gracious host.
Party for one, please! How apropos given our current social distancing guidelines! It is a celebration of YOU.
Are you celebrating yourself today?
If your answer is unclear or that you are not, it’s okay. It’s never too late to dial in to your unique needs and dial up your self care routine.
This is not a boat you can miss; your self-care practice is a luxury liner docked safely in the harbor of your life waiting patiently for you to board.
Much like a luxury cruise, a curated and evolving practice of self-care can empower you to function at your best, replenish your reserves, and provide clarity to do everything from making smarter decisions, to helping others.
And believe me, those living with you will stand to benefit from your self-care practice as well.
Listen, life can change a lot from one year to the next. One thing that should never waiver is your commitment to YOU.
As always, please share your responses in the comments below. We can all benefit from sharing with one another. If self-care is critical to one’s wellbeing, collectively, it can elevate our entire Herd.
Lots of love,
Carolyn
p.s. We are hosting our first Sister Talk of 2021 on this very topic! Join us on Wednesday, March 24th at 7 PM EST via Zoom as we explore various holistic self-care techniques with Jane Ann, LMT and certified Reiki and Unergi Body Psychotherapy Practitioner. Click here for details.