End of summer. Bears beat the Broncos. First day of school. Upcoming milestone birthday. Not sure which one of these phenomena prompted my writing this morning but this song by the Byrds has been playing over in my head. Turn, turn, turn.
I’ve been spending quite a bit of time in the last few weeks, as I prepared my kids for their first day of school, thinking of what comes next. The house will be quiet again and it will be back to the grind for me after my cast comes off today! What I know for sure is that every season from here on out will include self-care. What do I mean by self-care and why is it important? Here’s the part where most people say, “I don’t have time for that” and stop reading.
For those of you who pressed on, you’ve come to the realization as I have, that you can’t afford to not make time for it. It can take many forms: physical, social, emotional or spiritual and to everything there is a season. Maybe you commit to maintaining a daily meditation or mindfulness practice. Do yoga, or run with your dog. Reach out to people you haven’t seen or heard from in years. Whatever form it takes, find something you genuinely enjoy that fits with your life and values and just.do.it.
Why? The benefits are exhilarating!
- More productive. When you learn how to start making time for things that matter more, you realize that you are so worth slowing down for. This brings your goals into clarity and helps you focus more, which will in turn, make you successful in meeting your commitments.
- Take risks. The lesson of figuring out what makes you feel passionate and inspired can help you understand yourself a lot better. Sometimes, this can even spark a change in career, as it did for me late last year. Be open-minded and know that life is all about balancing risk — the biggest risk is not taking one.
- More to give. My morning affirmation today was “Peace is within me.” What a calming realization. Finding peace within helps you to break through to your best self and therefore, someone that others want to be around. Spending quality time this summer with my family and friends was such a joy. You can’t pour from a cup if it’s empty.
Wherever you find yourself today, know that there is a time to every purpose under heaven. “A time to plant, a time to reap. A time to laugh, a time to weep…. A time for peace, I swear it’s not too late.” Find your work-life blend today.
