7 Ways to Take Better Care of Yourself in the Busyness of Work-Life
This past week was one of the busiest weeks I’ve had in the last several months, which is great, of course. Writing about wellness spas and talking to others about the benefits of going to a wellness spa inspire me for many reasons and time away devoted to our health is invaluable.
Massage and other services are vital for our well-being, however what I love most about the spa industry is that it’s a lifestyle. So while we can learn a lot about living healthier lives, implementing what we learned to our daily life is important.
The Spa Lifestyle (for me) is about Eating Healthy, Moving our Bodies, Going Outdoors, Meditation and Prayer and so much more. The busyness of this week reminded me of a few things to re-evaluate for my own health and perhaps they’ll remind you of the importance of taking care of yourself. It isn’t selfish. It’s necessary. And while my intention is to engage in all of these there are times that even our best intentions fail us. So let’s get back on track together.
1. Always take advantage of ‘slow times’ to complete other goals.
This is something I always think about when I get really busy. It also reminds me of a job I had years ago when I was told to enjoy the slow time because it was about to get very busy. I know I tend to thrive in the energy of the busyness, however the lesson here is to take advantage of the ‘ebb’ in our lives and use the time to complete other tasks to avoid stressing over not having the time later.
2. Go to the gym in the morning because ‘later’ comes much too soon.
Old habits aren’t always easy to change, however this one has to. I like to start my day with breakfast, followed by going through my emails and prioritizing tasks, etc. My intention is to reward myself with going to the gym in the afternoon. I’m sure you know how that’s been working out. Obvious? Yes. Take care of this early. No guilt later and I’m pretty sure we’ll feel more energized (without a second cup of coffee).
3. Always have a pitcher of water on your desk.
Last Christmas I purchased a water pitcher thinking I would keep it filled and on my desk everyday. It worked for a little while and then I decided I’d just get up and down to get a glass of water to break up sitting so long. Well, it’s truly best to keep the pitcher close at hand so that you’re staying hydrated throughout the day. The more you drink your daily water, the more you’ll naturally get up!
4. Go outside, breathe in fresh air and connect with nature.
This is so important on so many levels. I find that even when I’m engaged in my work flow there comes a time in the afternoon, usually about 4pm, that I have to go outside. It may only be for about 10-20 minutes, yet the benefits last much longer. Go outside!
5. Play music you love…music that inspires you.
I love most kinds of music and choose different kinds depending on what I’m working on.
Music inspires me.
Music gets me moving.
Music stirs my soul and helps my creative process.
What kind of music inspires you?
6. Read more and watch less (TV).
I’ll confess that I do have a few favorite TV shows. Watching them distracts me from the challenges of life and yet I’ve been reading less and miss that time. I love to read and most of what I read is in the self-help genre.
I have every book by Dr. Wayne Dyer, most from Louise Hay and Paulo Coelho and many, many others. Reading helps me to slow down and immerse myself in the power of inspiring words. It’s time to finish what I started. What are you reading?
7. Eat Lunch!
More often than not I ‘forget’ to eat lunch. That 4pm time comes along and I can’t help but wonder why I didn’t have something earlier.
It’s important to eat healthy and frequently during the day. It’s a matter of taking just a few minutes and yet we get distracted by all of the busyness of our task-driven day. With all of the cookbooks I have from my favorite spas like Miraval, Mii amo, Canyon Ranch, Rancho la Puerta, Red Mountain Spa, Cal-a-vie and Golden Door, there’s no excuse. A good plan is bag some cut-up veggies, nuts, and whatever you’d like so they’re ready to grab.
I know these are obvious, however, when you’re ‘in the flow’ it’s easy to put off doing what you know is best so this is a reminder for all of us.
Now go outside, grab a bag of veggies, and enjoy the day!
Photo credit: Donna Adinolfi