Caring for Yourself
Currently, I know so many of us feel like we’re stuck in a hamster wheel where days are rolling one into the next. Sometimes those days are filled with sadness, grief, loss, or struggle just to get through to the next, while other days are filled with hope, sunshine, happiness, and possibility. I believe we’re being presented with new opportunities to be creative in the ways we connect, care, and collaborate with one another that we might have been missing out on in the busy flow of earlier days.
Today I wish to remind, encourage, and hopefully inspire you to make time each day to take care of you. Caring for yourself could mean something as short as five minutes if that’s what you feel you need that day. Other days, time spent caring for yourself may be longer and should be if you need it. In these times of unknown, it’s important not to lose track of ourselves and what we truly need.
Are you in need of self care today? Try any of these activities:
Physical Health – Shower daily, (even if you’re not leaving the house), drink Plenty of water, (at least half your weight in ounces), take stretching breaks at least every 2 hours, (even if it’s only for a few seconds), turn up your favorite music and move your body for five minutes or longer!
Spiritual Health – Enjoy early, quiet mornings by yourself, pray, complete a devotional, keep a gratitude journal, mindfully breathe, focus on trusting that God’s plan is intentional even if you don’t yet understand the “Why” of His ways.
Emotional Health – Journal about your experiences, rest and relax, allow yourself to feel all of your feelings with no judgement, cry, laugh, celebrate and connect with others, lean on those in your life who uplift you, declutter your home, get organized.
Mental Health – Make lists of the things you can control, read a bit each day and challenge your mind, learn something new, teach someone something, write a kind note to someone, (or even yourself!), learn things at your own speed without pressure.
Relationship Health – Take breaks away from those you live with and reconnect with those you are missing, intentionally outline time for sharing space and time for separate space, be patient with yourself and others.
Financial Health – Create a new budget with your partner and examine what extra expenses you can live without, buy food in bulk to create/freeze meals for the days you don’t feel like cooking, ask yourself when making purchases, “Is this something I need or something I want?” or complete a Dave Ramsey course online to help you make steps toward your financial goals.
We may not be able to control all aspects of our lives right now, but there are still plenty of things we can control. Part of the control we still have is taking care of ourselves, which seems to be more important now than ever.
If you, like me, are hoping to find solace in something, I welcome you to find it in the thought, “We’re truly all in this together, we’re on the same playing field.” Though many in the world are divided about so many things, and as tragic as this virus is, I see it bringing people together who may have thought before that their differences were just too far apart. However, at the end of the day, we’re all the same, doing our best and wanting what is best for everyone.
I encourage you to make time for yourself this week and take the space you need. I also encourage you to offer extra kindness to others whether it be through a smile, a kind word, or a quick written note. Keep being the best version of yourself that you can and don’t lose sight of the care and compassion that yourself and those around you need.
What does living your exceptional life look like to you?
What’s one thing you did to care for yourself today? Was it enough?
How are you supporting others around you? What’s been the most effective strategy?
What’s your favorite way to care for yourself? What emotion(s) does it make you feel?
How to get unstuck
How to get unstuck
Sometimes it feels like you are stuck in Ground Hogs Day Movie…
Is today a new day? What is different than yesterday? How can I find JOY today?
I know too many that feel stuck in a hamster wheel where one day roles into the next. Sometimes the days are filled with sadness, grief, loss or struggle to just get through. Other days are filled with Hope, Sunshine and Possibility. I believe there are new creative opportunities to connect, care and collaborate that we might have missed in the busyness of earlier days.
Today I just want to remind, encourage and hopefully INSPIRE you to make time each day to take care of you. It can be something small but also something very needed in these days of so much unknown and out of our control days
How can you keep taking care of your Health? Here are a few thoughts
Physical Health: Shower daily even if you are not leaving the house, Drink Plenty of water at least half your weight in ounces, take stretching breaks at least every 2 hours if only for a few seconds, Turn up the music & Move UR body 5+ minutes
Spiritual Health: Early Quiet mornings, Pray, Devotional, Gratitude, Breath, Trust God’s plans to be better than your plans or your understanding, Serenity Prayer
Emotional Health: Journal, Rest, Allow yourself to feel whatever you feel, no judgement, Cry, Grief, laugh, celebrate and connect with others. Declutter your rooms, drawers it feels so good to give stuff away and organize
Mental Health: Make lists of what you can control, Read a bit each day, learn something new if you are up for it, teach something, Write a kind note to someone or even yourself, Learn without pressure
Relationship Health: Take breaks from those you live with and reconnect with those you are missing. Make intentional time of when you will share space and when you will take separate walks. Be patient with yourself & others
Financial Health: This is a nice time to create a new budget and talk about what extra expenses you can live without. Buy food in bulk to create/freeze meals in the weeks to come when you don’t feel like cooking. Ask yourself is this a need or a want. Take a Dave Rasmey course online.
There are many things we can not control in our career and the world right now You can take control of taking care of yourself it is even more important now more than ever.
The one thing I am finding solace in is that we truly are all in this together on the same playing field. People have been so divided about so many things it literally hurts my heart to see the Hate in our world. I feel like as tragic as this virus is it is bringing people together that might think they have many differences but at the end of the day we are all the same, just people doing our best and wanting what is best for everyone.
I hope this week you find time and space to offer extra kindness through a smile, a kind word or a written note. Keep being the best version of you as you take care of yourself and those around you You got this, lets go…Just one step forward everyday to get unstuck and get healthy in all areas of your life!
Are you living like your body will last till 106?
Living Until 106
How old do you plan to live? I say 106 when anyone asks, but it’s more of a reminder to myself than anything else. I believe part of living a long life is shifting your thinking and daily routines to positive planning. This may start as simply as reminding yourself how long you want to live then moving into creating better habits such as quitting smoking, drinking less alcohol, visiting the gym more often, or eating a few more veggies each week.
So often it’s common for us to take our bodies for granted. Many times, we use and abuse them and waste money on junk in the process rather than investing in the good stuff that helps our bodies maintain optimal health. I don’t always eat healthily, but I do my best to eat well, take my AdvoCare Supplements daily, and move my body for at least twenty minutes of continuous exercise three days a week, sometimes more.
It’s helpful to have someone who is farther in their wellness journey to look up to. My husband is faithful in his commitment to his AdvoCare Routine and never misses a day, even on vacation. Since my husband takes great care of himself, he can run a 5K any day of the week, takes aftercare of his workouts seriously, and doesn’t take his health or strength for granted. His dedication and motivation to his wellbeing inspire me to keep working toward being the healthiest me I can be.
While there are some things about our health that we can’t control, there are even more things about it that we can. Each day we can choose what we eat, how we move our bodies, and what healthy supplements we want to use. If your goal is to live a long life, it’s only going to be fun if it’s a healthy life as well. This week, I encourage you to choose one factor of your health (whether it be food, exercise, or supplement focused) and make a goal to engage in that healthy behavior three times this week. It’s time for us to gain and maintain our health together – see you at 106!
What does living your exceptional life look like to you?
What is something you do to maintain optimal health?
What does your exercise routine look like? How often?
Do you take any AdvoCare supplements each day? Do you know which supplements you should be taking?
Messy, Are you a little Messy?
Messes
Do you ever make a mess? I often tell people not only can I make a mess, I can be a mess! From my wild, curly hair to the silly things I say, my life can get messy. It can feel complicated and confusing at times. Recently, as I was out walking my dogs, I thought, “Wouldn’t it be nice if we had small, pretty smelling doggie bags we could use to easily clean up our life messes?”
Unfortunately, life isn’t that simple. As I said before it can be complicated, confusing, and take many years to clean up the messes we make in life. Messes happen because we’re human. Embracing the messy parts of life gives us grace, allows us to relax, and to enjoy the ride a little more.
Rarely do things turn out as perfectly as we have them planned, but If we can accept the flaws within ourselves and within others, life can be more enjoyable. I often ask, “How does a perfectionist go to bed?” The answer is: a perfectionist goes to bed disappointed that their day didn’t end perfectly while those of us who embrace the messier side of life fall asleep easily knowing tomorrow is a new opportunity to get it right or say, “I’m sorry.” What mess will you overcome today?
What does living your exceptional life look like to you?
What is messy in your life?
How do you clean up your messes?
Do you expect your day to run smoothly or are you open to challenges, twists and turns?
#BetheException #FreedomInTheMessy #BeAPineapple
Exceptional Health, Make the Choice to take care of you!
What does Exceptional Wellness mean to you? Can you decide today even if you don’t feel like it you will make good Choices to take care of your Body, Mind and Spirit Today? Do it even if you don’t feel like it, you will be so glad you did!
Keep it simple and take one step forward everyday; ) You got this, I believe in YOU!!!
#BetheException #AuthenticallyAnnie #ExceptionalWellness
I Am Dying, Are you? How are you Living?
I Am Dying
This is what I was told over and over since the last week of July. Sometimes it was by my medical team, other times by well-meaning friends. I had a scare this summer, and in the end I scared myself more than anyone. But for all the fear, I learned there’s a benefit to getting sick and being forced to slow down and reflect on your life. It allows you time to be grateful for your past and make a plan for your future. I may be dying, but so is everyone else. Whether it’s tomorrow or years from now, the important thing to remember is to keep living.
After all was said and done, I ended up with a big scar I feel every day, along with five small scars. A person’s scars are a sign of the past and the visible aspect of their healing journey. I’ve recently concluded my own healing journey from an infection that’s now gone from my body. I feel good; I’m healthy, happy, and no longer take my wellness for granted. I’m recommitted to my workouts and my supplements. I’m more aware of my unhealthy eating habits, and I’m working on slowly adjusting them.
I’m not afraid of death; I embrace it and maybe even look forward to it. I don’t mean to sound stranger than I normally do, but I truly do believe in eternal life and peace, as well as light and love as we get to spend eternity with Jesus. When I die, if you’re still around, I hope you’ll be part of my celebration of life. We’ll listen to music, including Landslide (my favorite reflection song). We’ll eat peaches, tater tots, donuts, Suzy Q’s, and banana flips, and wash it all down with Squirt, (remember, I’m still working on more balanced eating habits). We’ll share stories of silliness as well as great moments.
I’ve lived better than I ever dreamed I would or could. If I happen to live to 106 as I’m planning to, I hope you’ll share in my journey and create stories with me. Remember to celebrate your life to the fullest; never take a moment for granted, and treat each one as a blessing.
Are you afraid of death? Do you think about it? Do you plan for it?
What do you envision your celebration of life to look like?
Have you and are you living the legacy life you dreamed of?
