This taking care of ourselves is a way of life and it’s our ultimate responsibility to ourselves and our kids. Our well-being can’t wait—and neither can theirs.
What have you done for your self-care today? No, seriously, create a list of all the things you did to take care of yourself so far today. Include everything from brushing your teeth and taking a shower to drinking water.
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Look at your list. If you have fewer than two things on your list, it’s time to take a mindful look at how you’re spending your time.
Sleeping well, eating well and exercising every day are the bare minimum. The. Bare. Minimum. We need to be doing these things every day to feel our best and brightest.
Let’s dive a little deeper into your day. In the last 24 hours:
Did you feel well?
Did you exercise?
Did you get quality, restorative sleep?
What did you eat?
Did you drink enough water (at least half your body weight in ounces or more if you exercised)?
Did you find time for an activity you enjoy, such as journaling, cooking, painting or drawing?
How much time did you spend on a screen or behind a desk?
We give away lots and lots of minutes during the day to social media and our devices. When you add up all those minutes, many of them could have been spent on self-care.
A lot of our time throughout the day is also spent waiting. Waiting for an appointment. Waiting in line at the store. Waiting for someone to arrive. Instead of being in a race to be the first to take out your phone during these moments, can you bring a book to read or a journal to write in that can help you add more points to your self-care bank? Can you meditate or practice a breathing exercise for a few minutes?
Every day and always, treat yourself with the respect and kindness you deserve. Self-care helps you do that.
Our kids are watching us, too. If they see us exercising in moderation, prioritizing bedtime and eating clean and healthy, they’ll grow up knowing that this is a balanced way of life. Let’s set an incredible example for them now so that when they’re adults, taking care of themselves well will be seamless.
Self-care isn’t something that can wait. Our well-being can’t wait.