Taking Care of Business

As absolutely fabulous women, most of us are career women or entrepreneurs in addition to maybe being moms and grandmothers. What is the most important act of your business? Answer: self-care. Self-care involves more than health maintenance, exercising to maintain physical fitness and clearing stress, eating well, and relaxing. Self care is also about becoming more real, more genuinely present in all respects -- shadow and light, earth and sky, grocery list and unity consciousness. It is about living in all aspects of reality simultaneously rather than only those realms that feel the most comfortable. When you are “too busy” to be really present not only are you building stress in your system you are probably lying to yourself about the quality of your happy life. When you do take that time for self care you are able to be more present and therefore a more truly powerful and effective woman.  

Recovering myself and accepting who I am is a major part of my daily life. The more I take care of myself, body, mind and spirit, the more I truly feel like myself. The more I feel like myself my self esteem increases, I am more effective in my work, and therefore my worth to my clients is enhanced. Do you include the basics of self care in your daily life? Or do you think your body and soul will take care of itself and your “job” is more important? What do you do for daily self care? This week’s exercise has two parts: the first is to choose at least two favorite self-care tips and practice them for a week; the second is to write how you feel after doing these exercises both at the time of doing them and after a week of self care.

1.     Take a walk:  even 5-10 minutes of brisk walking outdoors can enliven your spirits and help you recharge. Take deep breathes to release the tension.

2.     Connect with nature: bring a live plant to your home or office and take pride in maintaining and nurturing it. Or affirm the beauty around you mindfully taking in the stars, sun, or clouds.

3.     Pet your dog or cat: it is vital for human beings to connect with life; petting your dog or cat will help you nurture something else, and create a sense of companionship and love naturally. 

4.     Sit in the sun for 15-20 minutes: not only is the sun a natural Vitamin D source, it helps to revitalize your energy levels.

5.     Exercise at the gym: for the full benefits of a great workout, work towards sustaining a cardio session for 30-45 minutes. When you break a sweat, you’re releasing tension and stress.

6.     Get a massage: whether you are a newbie or a veteran, you can always ‘disengage’ from your environment through this process of natural relaxation.

7.     Call a friend or family member: just hearing the sound of a familiar friend or relative can help you think about someone else and forget about your own stressful or challenging situations.

8.     Take a nap: sometimes you might just need a mental break. Take a short 15-20 minute nap, and you’ll feel fresher and energized.

9.     Plan a meal for yourself: organizing and shopping for a special healthy meal of favorite foods is incredibly nurturing and will serve as a reminder to eat right for your health. 

10.  Practice centering yourself: develop a daily routine of 5-10 minutes of breathing and checking in with who you are in the moment. When you lose your way you can always return to that physical place inside you that you established with your breath and focus.

You can find me on Facebook, or Twitter @selbyink – that is unless I am busy doing self care!