Self-Care As A System For Success
Published on 25 Jan 2009 at 8:41 am.
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Filed under Business Development, Feature Articles, Personal Development Strategies.
If you’re been reading my posts for a while, you know how much I advocate self-care as being a critical factor to being successfull in all areas of your life.
If you’ve been brought up with the idea that in order to be successful in your business or happy in your life, you have to work hard. Really hard. Y’know, “No pain, no gain, If you’re not working hard, you’re lazy.” Or perhaps you heard that if you took care of your needs and did what what best for you, that you were selfish, right?
What I found is that when I working hard I can ignore some of the signals my body is telling me when I need to slow down, take a break, take the day off and play, or delegate a task to someone else. Or I find my concentration drifting, become easily distracted, de-motivated, procrastinating, and neglecting myself from some of the routines that keep me at my best like eating healthy, exercising or meditating.
It can become a destructive cycle when we don’t take care of ourselves and continue to push, push, push, and go, go, go without building energy reserves and life balance.
The result is burnout and the symptoms ain’t pretty:
- Irritability, anger
- Impatience
- Reacting rather than responding
- Sleep disturbance
- Binging or not eating
- Depression
- Poor concentration
- Heightened stress
- Lack of motivation
- Self-neglect and sabotage
- Destructive behavior (drinking, drugs, numbing out)
- Loss of productivity and performance
Shall I keep going or have I made my point?
When you find yourself exhibiting several of these symptoms, let that be a neon sign that says, STOP, take a breath, and check in with yourself.
Notice your thoughts. How does your body feel? Where are you holding tension? What emotions are you feeling? And most importantly, what do you need? Listen to what you body is asking for or screaming for.
Left unchecked, these symptoms can develop into illness and psychological problems.
Over the Christmas holidays I intended to several days off. I even wrote it in my calendar. I had some fun planned that I was looking forward to. I ended up working most of the time. I won’t make any excuses because I made the choice to handle some things that were time consuming. Nothing urgent that couldn’t have waited until after the New Year.
Boy did I feel it! I was snapping at my friends, feeling impatient, staying up late….
Everything suffers when you don’t re-energize and take time for yourself. EVERYTHING. If you tell me you’re too busy and don’t have time to take care of what you need because of all the people and responsibilities have, you could be headed for burnout. I’m not kidding.
If you believe you’re supposed to take care of everyone else and your needs are unimportant or SELF-ISH, I hope you have a good medical plan.
Taking yourself off the back burner doesn’t mean you turn your back on the people and things that are important. It means shifting things that include you in the picture. That’s a win-win for everyone!
Something you might not know is that when we are depleted and stressed, negative self-talk (conversations we have in our head), and fears gets louder and more painfull. Anger flares. That usually gets my attention to tell me I’m out of balance.
While life can bring some unexpected challenges, here are a few ideas to create a system of self-care:
1. During work, take breaks during the day every 2-3 hours for at least 15-20 minutes. Get up, move around, go outside….If you tend to eat at your desk, stop doing that and go out or eat somewhere else
2. Start you day with some spiritual practices to become centered and connected to your spirit. Consider meditation, inspirational reading, a walk in nature, journaling, listening to an uplifting CD, yoga, writing 5 things you’re gratefull for - you decide. Beginning each morning in this way helps to set your intentions for your day. You can choose to do some things at different times of the day too. I meditate in the afternoon rather than the morning.
3. Schedule fun things into your calendar. Having things to look forward to is a great boost for self-esteem and spirit. Arrange activities that pamper and nourish you. Personally, my hot stone massages are a big favorite!
4. Set a time when your work day ends and your personal life begins. Hold that boundary and resist doing work when you promised yourself “Me” time. End each day with something that brings you pleasure and peace.
5. Give yourself permission to take good care of YOU! Let go of all the shoulds and beliefs around selfishness and create a new definition of self-care. When people are on airplanes with small children, they are told that in a crisis and the oxygen bags drop down, they are to place them on their face first so they can help their children!
And, to be a great giver, you must also be a great receiver both to yourself and from others. So, be open to receive people’s offers of help, gifts, time… in other words, be open to receive other people’s love.
Imagine what you are create in your life when you feel happy and nourished? Think of self-care as a system that keeps you at your best to show up for the people and things you love. Make self-care a habit and you will benefit in all areas of your life!
And, go watch my new video, I Say YES!
Ok - time for some time for ME!
Cheers,
Lorraine
www.powerfull-living.biz
PS: Ready to transform your life into a love story? Join me and Anita Pathik Law for a powerful journey in Aligning With Destiny - an 8 step blueprint for Whole Life Transformation beginning Feb. 10, 2009. Read the raving testimonials and register by Feb. 1 to save a $100 off the tuition. Want some miracles? We’ll help you make ‘em!
Click here to access the recording of our Jan. 15 conversation on Stories, Dramas, & Illusions.
Watch my new video, I say YES!
