Self care and soul tending isn't always the easy decision, is it?
Sometimes it requires saying "no" when you're used to saying "yes."
Sometimes it requires saying "yes" when you're used to saying "no."
Sometimes it requires turning off your phone to truly connect - with yourself and those around you.
Sometimes it requires you to close the fridge, or the bottle, or the cupboard door, you mindlessly open - again, and again, and again - to address what you're avoiding instead of numbing it out or distracting yourself with food and drink.
Sometimes it invites you to sit down and eat slowly, because your default pattern is to stand up, skip the meal, or be in a constant rush - all. the. time.
Sometimes it requires you to ask for help.
Sometimes it requires stepping away, even if for 5 minutes, to get quiet and take a break from our noisy world.
Sometimes it encourages you to get out and move your body even when your mind tries to tell you someone or something else is more urgent.
Sometimes it encourages you to slow down and take a day off from your exercise routine and just rest, darling.
As Emily P Freeman writes, "It takes more work to create margin than it does to stay busy. Busy is the default. Margin takes intention."
Let this weekend wish be a gentle loving reminder - if you need it - that self care and spirit tending are a necessity.
As Shauna Niequist says in her book Present Over Perfect, "Part of being an adult is taking responsibility for resting body and soul. And part of being an adult is learning to meet your own needs, because when it comes down to it, with very few exceptions, no one else is going to do it for you."
You are the one who takes responsibility for your own well-being. You call the time-out. You put on the brakes. You change course. You make the time. You ask for help.
Because how you feel emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually impacts everything and everyone around you. Hustle and on-the-go living only works in balance with self nourishment and spirit tending.
So how do you tend to your spirit? How do you care for yourself?
For me, in no particular order, these are some of my nourishing rhythms in the midst of our fall full schedule (aka My Bliss List)
Be alone for an hour
Sit for 15 minutes and eat my breakfast on the front porch
Read scripture before I start my day
Walk in the woods.
Go to the beach for 1-2 hours ==> Feet in the sand. Listen to the waves. Soak in sun. Swim in Lake Michigan. Read a book. Journal.
Get to bed by 10pm
Take a nap during the day
Drink more water than I usually do
Grocery shop once a week for the week ahead
Make a nourishing home-cooked meal.
Sunday night date drives with my love
Get to bed 30 minutes early and read a novel
Device-free Sundays
Backyard evening fires
Hugs and snuggles with my boys, my husband, and my dog
Watch a movie on the couch
Turn off my phone for a couple hours
A walk with a friend
Clean my car
Brain dump a list of all the things I need to do. Then prioritize + schedule them into my calendar for the upcoming week/s. This helps avoid the "list" from swirling in my brain, which exhausts me. I get it out of my brain and onto paper (one of my favorite hacks & only a 3 minute activity!) that I teach in my upcoming October 24 Overwhelm course.
Speak kind, loving, compassionate words to myself. Forgive myself, ask for forgiveness and apologize when I need to
Have a dance party in the kitchen
Reevaluate my expectations when it creates unnecessary stress and worry and rush.
Here's my weekend wish for you ==> Create Your Own Bliss List
Get out a piece of paper and write our your own list of nourishing rhythms (aka Bliss List)
Then, look at your list and pick one to enjoy this weekend.
