Schedule Self Care for Success!
The new year is a time that we plan and set new goals for ourselves moving forward. Some of us more “Type A” personalities even plan out every action step along the way towards reaching those goals. And, quite honestly, that is the best way to achieve goals - by focusing on the smaller action steps to get there. BUT - and this is a big but, sustaining those action steps day after day and week after week to reach our goals can be difficult without replenishing our energy stores - something that many of us overlook!
As a person with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, a chronic condition, I’ve had to learn that in order to succeed I need to pace myself. If I push myself too hard, I hit a wall and ultimately break down, injure myself, get sick, or give in and accept failure before I get where I want to be. But, if I recharge regularly, I can keep going and going just like that energizer bunny! The same is true for every one of us. My body just makes me more acutely aware when it is past time to recharge. Your’s might give you more subtle signs. What I’ve found though, is that by scheduling that self-care time before I hit that wall, actually putting it on my calendar and building into my day, I can avoid those dips in energy, and other more devastating setbacks and continue on, and on, and on at a steady pace.
There are certain things I do to recharge daily, others weekly, and still others that I can afford to push out to once a month. Here are some ways I schedule in self care - I hope you can adapt and adopt some them for your needs too!
I take time each morning to plan my top 3 priorities. Things that I will know when they are done, I will feel accomplished even if nothing else goes according to plan the rest of the day.
I also take a few minutes each morning to activate my core so I have my best chance to move in the right ways throughout the rest of the day and not tweak anything.
I recharge with a healthy afternoon snack and drink around 3 pm so I don’t drop in energy levels or get hangry before dinner.
I take just a little time to myself in the evening before bed to reflect, focus on the things I am grateful for that happened that day, reset and settle my mind before sleeping.
I plan recovery days into my workout routine each week where I stretch, foam roll, align my posture and give my muscles a chance to rebuild.
I take at least an hour each week, many times more, to plan out my week because knowing my schedule helps me to be way less stressed.
I schedule at least one if not two or three self-care visits each month, whether it is massage, chiropractic, hair appointment, teeth cleaning, checkup etc.