As women, we are used to taking care of other people intuitively and love and do it well. But, if we forget about ourselves, we can’t take care of other people indefinitely. Personally, I focus on the positive in my life and maintain the philosophy that “the show must go on” and usually muscle through it. Most women I know do also, but sometimes you have to stop and take care of yourself to get to good again. The thing I hear most often from women that I train at MaZi is “I don’t have time”. It’s true, we don’t have a lot of time, but we can carve out 10-15 minutes, and the world will keep going I promise!
There can be days or weeks where nothing feels right. You are in a rat race and you question what you like or even believe and your SO doesn’t say the right things and your kids don’t like you. Maybe it’s not true, but once you start going into a downward spiral of anxiety, guilt or exhaustion, it can feel as if you can’t snap out of it. I had one of those weeks and was also in a lot of physical pain because I slept wrong and couldn’t move my head from side to side. Then I got a sinus infection and coupled with dealing with the PTSD of last week’s safety scare with my youngest child, it became too much and I felt pretty negative. So I started with what I know and love best: taking class at MaZi Dance Fitness, getting a massage with Being Body Aware and wine. But I had to dig a little deeper this time, and these are some of the things that helped.
- Come home to yourself (3 minutes)- Urban Medicine Woman Tiffany, whom I met a Windy City Wellness recommends placing your hand over your chest in a loving way and taking deep belly breaths. This gesture is so simple and impactful. When you do this take account of your breath, heartbeat, warmth of your skin and give yourself a couple of minutes. To magnify the effect, picture something or someone you are grateful for and allow yourself to bask in it. I remember hearing somewhere that if you don’t touch yourself, you’ll let the wrong people touch you and even though it sounds a little risque, it’s absolutely true.
- Call a childhood friend during your commute (on your bluetooth!)- I try to call my lifelong friends that don’t live anywhere by me because it reminds me of who I am and where I came from. It’s grounding and there is always so much laughter which automatically makes us feel great.
- Take a bath (20 minutes)- I know it sounds cliché, but I have been stepping up my bath game and kind of relate it to how I feel when I drink wine. Relaxed, present and warm! I incorporate some bath salts for the aromatherapy and how it makes my skin feel when I get it out. 3 benefits in 1 without the wine hangover! I have always used really generic Epsom salt, or Benefit bath soap but have really enjoyed using these!
- Dance (5 minutes)- If you can’t get to a group dance fitness class, which is my idea of heaven, play your favorite song and do what feels good. If you’re new to dancing, don’t be shy, stand up and don’t create expectations just tap your foot or close your eyes and let your yourself sway. Before you know it, you’ll be fully rockin’!
- Go on a play date with your pet or kids, don’t invite your phone (30 minutes)- This week I took the kids to the park and left my phone behind. It was amazing. We laughed, we ran, we played rough and there were so many moments were I wished I had my phone to take pictures of them but I couldn’t! The benefit outweighed the cost, because I couldn’t get a text, phone call or email to ruin the moment. We played hard and we came back home feeling so blissful and spent.
- Read something you love (20 minutes)- When I was a student I remember feeling so guilty when I would read a book because I couldn’t afford to read anything other than my study materials from a time perspective! Now, I feel the same way but about my phone. I read on my phone all the time, but its usually work or “productive” reading. So I try to treat myself to read before bed and it’s such a transport and mental break. If you need book recommendations I highly recommend this blog, Glittering Eyes!
- Make something, start with your bed (5-30 minutes)- Lately I’ve been making all sorts of random things and without fail I learn something and therefore am distracted from what ails me. Some of the things that I make are dances for MaZi Dance Fitness, make-up tutorials for this blog, build car racing tracks for my boys, dinner (ok, this doesn’t happen that much) or my bed. I read somewhere that the military makes you make your bed first thing in the morning for a reason. It immediately sets your day on the road to success because you feel as though you accomplished something and other accomplishments follow more easily when you’re on the road to productivity. I believe that feeling productive makes you feel good, so I get a little mood boost from these!
- Give someone a sincere compliment (10 seconds)- As the famous Mother Theresa quote says, “Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” It’s true, giving feels good. Giving kind words feels great! The boomerang effect of this is so beautiful, and anyone can do it.
- Worship the sun (15 minutes)- Make like a kitten and find a sunny spot at home and lie there. Close your eyes and think about the things that you love.
- Red lipstick (1 minute)- If this is not your thing, wear something that makes you feel good and that feels good on you. The outfit I wore today was comfortable and it made me feel good, probably because I love all black and neutrals! Here are the details;
What makes you feel good?! I would love to hear your thoughts. XO, Z
