I used to think self-care was inconvenient and time-consuming. Like, honestly, I have too much to get done to stop and “pamper” myself. [eye roll]. It used to feel counterproductive and as an Enneagram 3, it’s tough for me to find value in things that aren’t productive [I’m working on this!] Over the years, I’ve developed an opposite view of self-care, though! I’ve really learned over the years that when I feel cared for [body, mind, and soul], then I am able to rise up to be the best version of me.
To me, the most important part about self-care is that it’s truly meant to be tailored to you. How do YOU feel cared for? How can you fill up? If you’re like me and sitting at a nail salon for 1.5-2 hours just stressed you out… then a mani/pedi is NOT your form of self care… and that’s OK! I personally do my own manicure and that quiet downtime at HOME brings me so much peace and helps me to refuel.
All I’ve done over the years is find small ways or small parts of a weekly/daily routine that leave me feeling FILLED UP instead of emptied out.
I wanted to help you babes fill your own cups, so I created a self-care checklist for you to use to help be the best version of YOURSELF. Click here for the checklist.
Below is a breakdown of how I prioritize self care to give you some ideas to find what works for you!
Where to start: Focus on the Basics
- Wake up before my house does [this is my dedicated ME time before I pour into my family as a wife/mother + before I pour into the people in my business as an entrepreneur]
- Drink Enough Water & start drinking it early in the morning [i.e. before coffee or pre workout]
- Eat 2-3 healthy/colorful meals daily
- 30-45 Minutes of Movement every day while listening to great music
- Read or listen to something encouraging for at LEAST 15 minutes daily
- Do my own manicure at home
- One night of solo time every week or 2 [just me, but this is bc I am a true introvert]
- Reflect on 3 things I’m grateful for every day in my work planner
- Spend some quiet time reading God’s word every day
- End my day with a meditation before going to sleep every single night
- Try to be in bed before 10 p.m. [and it’s ok if my husband wants to stay up late, there is nothing I’m missing by honoring my commitment to sleep and rest]
Self Care as an Entrepreneur: [all of the above.. plus]
Find ways to unwind everyday, When you LOVE what you do it can be very difficult to turn OFF. When you are getting your business off the ground and actively working on making your dreams come true- it can feel like you are “ON” literally all of the time. But you will BURN OUT if you don’t let yourself recharge. [i do this in a few ways, first: i try to limit night time work events, sometimes we will do a pre-dinner walk in the park, I shower when my son takes a bath, get into lounge-y clothes when I get him into pj’s, do skincare right after his bedtime and then usually unwind by watching a show with my husband before getting to bed]
I’m committed to being IN THE MOMENT on the weekends. [This wasn’t always the case. Building a business is a grind – especially in the beginning. But now, I’m very focused on being present with my family on the weekends. If I have a task that NEEDS to get done on a weekend – it’s going to be very early in the morning so they aren’t affected. I take pictures of my family’s weekend activities [bc that brings me joy] but i very rarely post in “real time”.
Outsourcing: believe it or not – this is a form of self care. Letting go of all control of all things really frees up some stress and TIME in your day. I love a collaborative effort & have a deep appreciation for the help that I’ve brought on board over the years.
Questions I often ask myself when I need to evaluate my own level of SELF CARE:
What are you reading/listening to? Is it uplifting?
Who are you spending time with? Do they drain you or inspire you?
What is your home environment like? Do you feel overwhelmed & need to de-clutter?
Do you feel a sense of peace in your life? How can you get there?
Do you have a go-to routine when you feel like you are running on empty?
When was the last time you got outside in nature?
Are there any areas in life you could ask for a little more help?
Tips For Following Through
Work the most important self-care items into your routine: Like, when my son is in the tub, that signals to me that it’s time for me to shower, get into loungey clothes, and take care of my skin – toddler baths are extremely long in this house haha! Also, my night light [Hatch Restore] is my clock right next to my bed. I have it pre-programmed to go into my meditation every night so all I do is tap it as I am climbing into bed.
Plan Ahead: Sometimes just putting something on your calendar for later in the week will help you follow through. [schedule the massage, or the beach walk, or the solo spin class]
If ever you start to feel burnt out, ask yourself how often you are incorporating self-care into your routine. It may be time for a change.
Be Realistic. No one expects you to get a massage every week. But there are small ways you can really “fill your cup” every day – even if it’s all at home + costs nothing.
Click here for my self-care checklist so you can start creating better habits today!
