Louise Racine of of Thirteen Moons Wellness shares some insightful Self-Care Tips for the Selfless Professional...
As women, we are usually the caregivers – always there for others – family, partner, kids, parents, boss, staff, community. We wear our superhuman powers like a badge of honour. Somehow we expect to keep going and going, like the Ever-ready bunny, fixing, consoling, organizing, supporting, and loving everyone but ourselves. Sadly, for some, the only thing that slows us down is illness.
There is an option. What if we actually made ourselves a priority? Right now. Not when circumstances allow it. Today, before we are forced to make the changes that we need to be vibrant and happy.
Here are a few suggestions that might inspire you to take action.
Practice Positive Self-talk – Be aware of the self-limiting beliefs you hold that tell you
that you are not worthy, you are not good enough, there isn’t enough time, money, etc.,
without judgement. Consider whether these refrains are completely true, usually they are
not. Recall an incident that dispels your negative belief, and reframe the thought to one
that better serves you. Get in the habit of doing this consistently and watch how things
shift for you.
One way to focus on positive is to keep a daily gratitude journal. As we bring more of
our blessing into our awareness, we begin to feel better about ourselves and our
circumstances.
Remember Gandhi’s wise words:
“Your beliefs become your thoughts. Your thoughts become your words. Your words become your actions. Your actions become your habits. Your habits become your values. Your values become your destiny.”
Make time for yourself – You schedule activities for everyone else, why not yourself?
Block time each day for meditation/prayer, journaling, being in nature. It doesn’t have to
be long, even 15 minutes a day will make a tremendous difference. It’s important to give
yourself quiet, reflective space. Imagine how wonderful it would be to have time just for
you to recharge!
You can easily do that throughout the day by focusing on your breath. When stressed,
we tend to breathe shallowly, constricting our muscles and further bringing tension that
perpetuates this negative cycle. No need to remind anyone how important breathing is to
our survival. Equally important is how we breathe.
Take care of your physical health – A huge piece of the self care puzzle is our
physical wellbeing. Without our health, we have nothing. As such, what you eat and
drink is vital. Are the foods you choose nourishing you or depleting you? Do you take
time to nurture your body, to look and feel your best?
So many women in our society experience difficulties sleeping. This is significant
because that’s when our body repairs and renews itself affecting our brain and heart
functions, digestion, hormones, and immunity. As such, it is critically important that we
figure out a way to resolve that issue without self-medicating.
And finally, physical activity keeps our bodies fit and vital allowing us to grow old with
vitality and strength.
Engage with people who lift your spirits – Choose carefully who you spend time with.
Sometimes, it’s challenging if we have negative people in our daily lives. However,
whenever possible, surround yourself with positive, fun, supportive people and
organizations. As a bonus, when we shift and become more balanced and happy, often
those around us reflect that. And, sometimes we have to let some people go.
Embrace personal development – As businesswomen, we tend to appreciate the
importance of honing our professional skills. However, any personal baggage we bring
to the workplace impacts how successful we can be. So it’s crucial to devote energy to
becoming the best version of ourselves.
Just a few simple self-care practices can greatly bring about personal wellness so you
are able to sustain the full, abundant life you so richly deserve.
Louise Racine (louise@thirteenmoons.ca) is a Certified Nutritional Practitioner and owner of Thirteen Moons Wellness located near Norwood. For the past 14 years, she has offered programs,
services and space that encourages women to engage in self-care.
