Self-Care Tips and Tricks

Fun Fact - I struggle to put myself before others. I find joy in helping others, and sometimes that means I fall short of what matters to me. I know, I know, that’s not always good. However, that is why I’m writing this Self-Care Tips and Tricks blog.

Balance is the key to success, I believe. Finding balance has been my personal challenge for years. I worked more than 40 hours a week while managing my responsibilities as a mom and wife at home.  I would wake up at 4 AM to write and market for two hours before starting my corporate job. Then, it was an eight-hour day at the office, with a one-hour commute, followed by after-school activities, dinner preparation, cooking, and cleanup. If I wasn’t too exhausted, I’d lock myself in my home office at 7 PM until 9 PM to keep writing. I am and was a prolific writer; once a story is in my head, I can write 1000 words in an hour, which is impressive given my limited writing time.

I managed this intense schedule for two years, and it wasn’t easy. Eventually, I couldn't keep up with that work schedule. It became overwhelming, and I was burning the candle at both ends, so I was wiped out. No self-care here.

I ended up not writing for months, nearly a year. It was a horrible time. I love writing. It’s a part of me. I find joy and peace in my stories; they play out in my mind like mini movies, and even when I wasn’t writing them down, they were still there. I felt sad because I couldn’t get them out. Something had to change for my mental health.

Finally, I felt it was time to reclaim “me” time. My first step was making sure I ate and drank healthier than I had been. I also needed to get moving; walking became a way to enjoy some time outdoors. Nature is a wondrous thing. Then I started writing at times that worked for me, rather than squeezing it in when it was convenient for others. I also accepted a job writing for a web service to write short stories, which are much easier to write because they’re quick. The writing successes came fast, giving me the joy I needed to keep the inspiration going. I also began recruiting my family to help out wherever they could, so I could spend time on other things, like my writing.

Today, a day of self-care looks different from how it once did.

1.  Mindful Me – Each morning, I get up and enjoy my first sips of coffee alone. I pair this with deep breathing and meditation. These 5-minutes or more are amazing minutes.

2.  Daily Nutrition – I pack all my drinks from home, coffee, water, hydration drinks, and I pack a meal that is healthier than eating out each day.

3.  Movement - I walk as much as possible between writing and work projects. I also complete a 7-minute HIIT exercise workout daily. It’s amazing what these simple things have done for my overall health.

4.  Ask For Help – I finally found a way to have others at home help me with vacuuming, bathroom cleaning, car washing, cooking, etc. THIS has been HUGE for me. I went from being all things to everyone to having support.

5.  Connect – I share my journey with my husband and family. I embrace my struggles and share my successes. I set goals and prioritize my needs.

6.  Sleep – I get my rest every night. I shut off my phone. I turn off the television. I read more. I decompress before bed, sometimes with a facial.

7.  Grace – I give myself breaks when needed. I accept my failures, and I never give up. I know I’m not perfect, and it won’t be perfect every day, but I work toward balance, and that has made my life better.

I made changes that work for me. I’ve seen many other ideas and suggestions for people, and they’re great. I chose what works for me at this stage in my life. Here is a website that might help you come up with a few self-care tips and tricks. Making one or two changes could make all the difference.

https://www.lifestylewithressa.com/blog/10-simple-self-care-habits-for-busy-womendifference.

For those seeking to dive into some of my new short stories, here are a few you may have missed. Enjoy the romance.