5 Self Care habits that empower you to prioritize yourself

I used to think that if I didn’t say yes to everyone that needed help,  karma would come back around and bite me in the ass. I was also conditioned somewhere along the way to think that I had to get everything done on my to-do list, even at my expense. Yes, I was a people pleaser. Turns out it doesn't have to be this way. You do NOT need to help everyone and get everything done while simultaneously exhausting yourself. I had to dig really deep to fully understand why I was thinking and doing things the way I was. I thought it was making me stronger as a person when the reality was it was weakening my body and mind in multiple ways while stressing me out at the same time. My lifestyle was making my immune system more fragile and eventually,  it caught up with me physically, energetically,  mentally and emotionally as well. I started having more headaches, I gained weight and I was feeling stressed. My body was talking to me, I hadn’t listened to it in years and it was time I did. I realized that I was a people pleaser. I had to learn what self love and self care really were. Your body will give you messages when your life and thoughts are out of alignment.  It was imperative that I start making better decisions for my well being, so I started incorporating some new habits and lifestyle changes. I decluttered my life and created boundaries for myself. In the process, my intuition became stronger and flowed more easily.  I was more aligned with my soul’s purpose and was less stressed. I also learned that true self-care is a combination of personal development and emotional self-care. It is not to be confused with a trip to the grocery store without the kids, or bathroom time without being interrupted. Those are basic human needs. I can now say that I am a recovered people pleaser, accepting the fact that self care is not selfish, it’s crucial for men as well as women.

Here are 5 healthy habits you can implement into your daily routine to create less stressful life and have better health and more happiness.

1. PRIORITIZE AND DELEGATE: Take a look at your to-do list and identify tasks that can be delegated or postponed. Consider asking for help from family, friends, or colleagues when necessary. By delegating tasks, you free up time for self-care activities.

2. SET BOUNDARIES: Learn to say no and set boundaries with others. Understand that it's okay to prioritize self-care and not take on additional tasks or responsibilities that will infringe on that time. This allows you to have more control over your schedule and prioritize your own well-being.

3. PRACTICE TIME BLOCKING: Take control of your schedule by blocking out specific time slots dedicated solely to self-care and emotional healing activities. Treat these time blocks with the same importance as any other appointment or commitment. By scheduling self-care activities in advance, you create accountability and ensure that they are not overshadowed by other tasks or obligations.

4. EMBRACE MINDFULNESS PRACTICES: Incorporate mindfulness practices into your daily routine, such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, or simply taking moments of intentional reflection. These practices help you stay present, reduce stress, and create space for self-care amidst a busy schedule. (My monthly e-mail always has valuable resources for self care… click here to subscribe- http://eepurl.com/h66XS5

5. LET GO OF PERFECTIONISM: Understand that it's not always necessary to complete every task on your to-do list perfectly. Accept that there will always be more tasks to tackle, and it's okay to prioritize self-care over perfection, and getting everything done at your expense. Give yourself permission to focus on what truly matters and let go of the urge to constantly strive for perfection. Remember, self-care is essential for overall well-being, and it is worth making time for.

Bonus Tip:

If you are fearful of change and are procrastinating prioritizing yourself. Get honest and ask yourself what the root source of your fear is? Are you a people pleaser? Are you a perfectionist? Are you hard on yourself when you make a mistake? Ask yourself what are you scared of if you don’t please someone? Do you think someone may not love you? Do you think they will be upset? The feeling of not being good enough may have come from a trauma that occurred in your past. It may have left an energetic imprint in you that now makes you feel that you are not worthy of receiving love unless you do something to earn it. It may have instilled a fear of loss or fear of rejection. The truth is you are worthy of love just because you were born. You don’t have to do anything to earn it. If you would like help working through a fear, I am here for you. Reach out to lscoaching211@gmail.com .

#peoplepleasing #selfcare #destress