​As women we're wired to nurture those around us. As Christians we've been taught JOY stands for Jesus, Others and then Yourself. But IMHO that's backwards. How can we give to others if we're burned out, frustrated or just plain empty?
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The reasoning is because we benefit from doing things for others, and that's true! But too often this leads to many of the symptoms mentioned in my previous paragraph.

Many people have their own ideas of what "self-care" means, but for me, this does not have to be complicated or costly. Think about what you love to do...

Do you love to read? Take a walk? Sit out in nature? Indulge in a bath with candles and music? These are all forms of self-care. Many times we wait for others to do things for us that make us feel loved and pampered- and that's fine too, but we need to love and pamper ourselves.

"But I don't have time!" You say.

Let's think about this for a moment. How much do you do for others while neglecting your own needs? 

This is unhealthy and out of balance.

Look at your day/week/month with a critical eye and see where you can carve out a few minutes each day, one day a week or a couple of days every month and schedule a massage or visit to a reflexologist or chiropractor. Have a manicure and/or pedicure or whatever you can do to recalibrate your nervous system and reconnect with yourself, your dreams and God.

In other words, have some much needed "Me Time." 

Here are a few more ideas...

Read a book for the sheer pleasure of it.
Take yourself on a picnic or for a walk in the park.
Buy yourself some flowers or a new outfit - again for the pleasure it brings you.

If we want to nurture others, we must nurture ourselves also.

Something to think about!
"Inspirational with an Edge! ™
"Coaching in Pjs" ™

PS: Read The Art of Extreme Self-Care: 12 Practical and Inspiring Ways to Love Yourself More  by Cheryl Richardson for beautiful ideas to transform your life "one month at a time."

You can't "find" time to write or meditate or (fill in the blank), you have to MAKE time. 

I know, I know, easier said than done. But is it?

Let’s think about this for a moment...

Everything in life is 90% perception and any change you want to make in yours usually requires a change in mindset first. So, remember, Time is an Illusion when complaining about your inability to set aside a few minutes a day or hours a week to pursue your passion or practice self-care.
 
Man created the clock, and we all have the same number of minutes/hours in a day. People who manage their time and spend it wisely do great things for themselves, their family, the community and, sometimes, humanity as a whole. “Not having time,” is one of the easiest excuses to fall back on when starting a pet project or implementing a new habit or anything else that will expand you. The mind does not like this, it would rather you stay stuck in your rut or in your safe zones.
 
So, what can you do?
 
First determine how bad you want it (whatever ‘it’ is).
 
Second, recognize when “something comes up” to prevent your scheduled time for yourself and be aware if that is really something urgent or important, or if it is simply procrastination brought on by fear.
 
Now that you’ve set your mind on your goal(s), here are some tips and tricks to making time in your schedule to accomplish it/them.

• For a week or two, keep track of your time the way you would your money when planning a budget. Be honest with yourself about your schedule.
• See if there are opportunities to combine activities in order to free up some time in your day or week. EX: Get your oil changed while eating lunch or while getting your hair cut or picking up a few non-perishables or shopping for gifts or clothes or whatever.
• Cut TV time or Telephone time.
• Be aware of time thieves like social media.
• See if you have time you can work on your project while waiting in a Dr.’s office or some place similar.

Find out where you can schedule 10-15 minutes and allocate those to your passion project, new business, or health goals. This may not sound like much but despise not small beginnings. Trust me, when you commit to those 10-15 minutes and stick with it, you'll discover they often evolve into 30 minutes or more. 

Something to think about!
"Inspirational with an Edge! ™
"Coaching in Pjs" ™