I'm not a fan of the term "self-care." It brings to mind long baths with essential oils and getaways with girlfriends.
I'm currently the queen of quick showers; I haven't soaked in the tub in more than a year.
I see this, however, as a big step toward self-care.
I missed the last getaway with my group of nine coaches.
This is self-care, too.
What I define as self-care are the commitments and promises we make to ourselves to support us as we go through the day.
Self-care is rushing through a shower so that I have time to take the dog (and me) on a walk.
Self-care is missing the coaches getaway because I needed quiet time to process the health issues that are happening with members of my family.
Recently, I was working with a coaching client who is overwhelmed with many decisions she must make to move her life forward. Self-care wasn't coming up on her list of priorities; it didn't appear at all on her to do list. She was surviving on caffeine to get through the long hours of each day and couldn't even fathom how to fit in anything more than what she was already doing.
Water, I suggested. What about committing to drinking a 12-ounce glass of water every morning?
She blinked, surprised. That's it?
We think of self-care as being an hour or more dedicated to ourselves, not a small moment in the morning.
We think of self-care as big things that we must plan for, make room for, get childcare for, and rearrange our schedules for.
I want you to ask yourself, "What is the minimum care I need?"
And then make it smaller.
And smaller.
And even smaller.
I want you to find your barebones minimum.
Using your barebones minimum, I want you to make a lasting commitment to yourself by promising to do one small good thing for you, and only you, each and every day.
For my client, her barebones minimum is drinking a glass of water in the morning.
For me, I started with committing to taking my supplements and vitamins every morning.
Then, when that became a habit, I committed to drinking a green smoothie every day.
When the smoothie became a habit, I committed to meditating. At some point each day - usually in the morning - I listen to a guided meditation by Oprah and Deepak Choprah. (FYI: They have a brand new - and free! - meditation experience starting October 29th. Go to chopracentermeditation.com/about-us to join.)
My next commitment starting this week is to do one Sun Salutation a day. Just one.
Reading the list, it seems like a lot until I remember that I started my barebones minimum project more than a year ago.
Little by little, with small moments of self-care, you can build a life you love.
I'm offering a free webinar on Tuesday, October 23rd at 10:00 a.m. PT to talk about the barebones approach to self-care. Can you join me? Even if you can't make it live, sign up and I'll send you the recording so you can listen to it later on your own time.
In the webinar, I'll be sharing well-researched ways to build new habits, like how much easier it is to build a new habit rather than stopping an old one; how self-compassion is much more effective than negative self-talk (and it feels so much better, too); and I'll answer your questions (as best I can because this will be the first time I'll be doing a Q&A) to help you begin your own barebones commitment.
Click here to join.
Remember, my lovelies, you don't have to do it all or be everything to everybody. You only have to do your personal best, whatever that looks like today.
And that's more than enough.
Big hugs,
Kathleen
I'm currently the queen of quick showers; I haven't soaked in the tub in more than a year.
I see this, however, as a big step toward self-care.
I missed the last getaway with my group of nine coaches.
This is self-care, too.
What I define as self-care are the commitments and promises we make to ourselves to support us as we go through the day.
Self-care is rushing through a shower so that I have time to take the dog (and me) on a walk.
Self-care is missing the coaches getaway because I needed quiet time to process the health issues that are happening with members of my family.
Recently, I was working with a coaching client who is overwhelmed with many decisions she must make to move her life forward. Self-care wasn't coming up on her list of priorities; it didn't appear at all on her to do list. She was surviving on caffeine to get through the long hours of each day and couldn't even fathom how to fit in anything more than what she was already doing.
Water, I suggested. What about committing to drinking a 12-ounce glass of water every morning?
She blinked, surprised. That's it?
We think of self-care as being an hour or more dedicated to ourselves, not a small moment in the morning.
We think of self-care as big things that we must plan for, make room for, get childcare for, and rearrange our schedules for.
I want you to ask yourself, "What is the minimum care I need?"
And then make it smaller.
And smaller.
And even smaller.
I want you to find your barebones minimum.
Using your barebones minimum, I want you to make a lasting commitment to yourself by promising to do one small good thing for you, and only you, each and every day.
For my client, her barebones minimum is drinking a glass of water in the morning.
For me, I started with committing to taking my supplements and vitamins every morning.
Then, when that became a habit, I committed to drinking a green smoothie every day.
When the smoothie became a habit, I committed to meditating. At some point each day - usually in the morning - I listen to a guided meditation by Oprah and Deepak Choprah. (FYI: They have a brand new - and free! - meditation experience starting October 29th. Go to chopracentermeditation.com/about-us to join.)
My next commitment starting this week is to do one Sun Salutation a day. Just one.
Reading the list, it seems like a lot until I remember that I started my barebones minimum project more than a year ago.
Little by little, with small moments of self-care, you can build a life you love.
I'm offering a free webinar on Tuesday, October 23rd at 10:00 a.m. PT to talk about the barebones approach to self-care. Can you join me? Even if you can't make it live, sign up and I'll send you the recording so you can listen to it later on your own time.
In the webinar, I'll be sharing well-researched ways to build new habits, like how much easier it is to build a new habit rather than stopping an old one; how self-compassion is much more effective than negative self-talk (and it feels so much better, too); and I'll answer your questions (as best I can because this will be the first time I'll be doing a Q&A) to help you begin your own barebones commitment.
Click here to join.
Remember, my lovelies, you don't have to do it all or be everything to everybody. You only have to do your personal best, whatever that looks like today.
And that's more than enough.
Big hugs,
Kathleen
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