Loving yourself means caring for yourself deeply, making your sleep, nutrition, mental well-being, happiness and health a priority.
I certainly slip up from time to time but when I do I take a breather ... I feel soooo much better. I walk, swim or read a book or meditate and a few times a year I organise to get away with the girls to unwind and have some fun - away from the family, work and all the demands that come with every day life. It's not being indulgent or selfish - it’s necessary!
So I hope you bookmark this, print it out for yourself or take a screen shot on your cellphone and keep it close for those times when you slip up and fall off track and it feels like your head is about to explode.
Take a deep breath with me and read the following out loud (or in your head).
1. Your job can wait (and it needs to).
You're a much better worker, creative thinker and faster executor when you take care of yourself, which means the project that will take your frazzled, overwhelmed mind four hours will take your well-rested, clear head two. It's always worth it to get adequate sleep and make your "me time” a priority, so you can show up to whatever task you have at hand as your best self and not some cranky pants who snaps at everyone. Believe me; your work will thank you for it.
2. Your health depends on it.
Seriously! This is a pretty obvious one. Have you ever noticed that after a crazy, stressful week of pulling long hours at work and feeling overwhelmed, you finally get to the weekend and you wake up sick and don’t leave the bed? Oh darling, if you don’t put yourself first, your body will certainly kick in and force you to! Stress and lack of sleep weaken your body’s immune system and leaves you more vulnerable for all sorts of nasty illnesses. Don’t even risk it!
3. Your romantic relationships will flourish.
Whether you’re in a relationship or looking for one, I guarantee that your partner will feel more enamored with you and more fulfilled in the relationship when you're not afraid to make yourself a priority. First, by taking the necessary time for yourself, you give your partner the freedom to take that time for them. Everybody wins, everybody’s happy! Second, when you're well rested, relaxed and centered, you're much more fun to be around. It’s OK if your partner misses you for a few nights because you need some time out to receive love of a different kind. They should want that for you btw. Self-nurture with a yoga session, a massage and a nice long bath, girly banter and giggles. The version of you that they will get afterward will have them urging you to get away more often. They don’t want a stressed-out partner any more than you do.
4. Your friends and family will benefit.
You think your friends and family don’t realise when they're talking to you and you’re half asleep, not listening to them or mentally distracted? Think again! These people know you best and love you most, they would much rather have you happy, healthy and clearheaded when they see you. Yes, even if that’s a little less often because you needed to take some time for yourself ... better still encourage them to join you so you can benefit together.
And your kids will love you for it ... even if at the time of leaving they make you feel guilty for it. In the end, you become the role model you want for them, setting an example that’s ok for them to live themselves too.
5. Most importantly, you'll start smiling and enjoying life more.
When you are at your happiest, you are at your most helpful to the world. You look better and you attract better. We should always strive to be our happiest and do those things that make us happy, every day. You show others how to treat you when you start showing up for yourself more.
So don’t be afraid to clear your schedule for some restorative time out. After all, you are pretty fabulous, and your aim should be to stay that way 💗