It's that time of the year that many of us look forward to (especially if you have kids)--SEPTEMBER! FALL! SCHOOL STARTS!!!!!!. And even if you don't have kids the change of seasons, from summer to fall, is always a breath of fresh air, right? I love this time of the year. The cool crisp air that creeps in by the end of September/October, leaves are turning color, pumpkin EVERYTHING, but how quickly that can change when our calendars get jam packed with kids activities, halloween parties, birthday parties, to-do's and of course the upcoming holiday seasons! With each changing season I always think things will slow down and I'll have more time to appreciate the scenery. HA! I fool myself and it's only getting worse as my kids get older. I have found that the more time we spend in activities, away from the house, running to and fro, the more stressed out all of us are--especially me and as a byproduct the kids! See, I'm a person that needs down time/quiet time. My batteries are recharged when I have time to think, breathe and the house is quiet and calm. And If I'm feeling recharged, you'd better believe the whole energy of my house has shifted. So I see two options here: 1)continue to stay stressed out and react to situations in a negative way which will ultimately harm our mental and physical well being (not to mention relationships) or 2) carve out some time for myself so that everyone benefits. As my husband and almost 5 year old says..."mom you are cranky, you need to go to yoga. Please go!"
For this upcoming fall season I have prepared a self-care challenge to help all of us be more aware of emotions, energy level and needs. Join me and take time out of the day (it doesn't have to be much) for YOU! These activities/tips don't take long but you will find that there will be positive lasting effects from just dedicating time to yourself. Do your self and favor and dedicate this month to you!
"Self-care is not selfish. Self-care is the greatest gift you can give to those you love."
I will be posting a few self-care tips each night to be done the next day. And if these tips don't resonate with you, take time out of your day for something that will! Remember, this challenge is all about taking care of yourself; what works for one person might not work for you. So be sure to find something that will feed your mind, body & spirit. I will be using the hashtag #feedmindbodyspirit I invite you to write in, take pictures, post your thoughts on that days' challenge and/or whatever activity you did on that day! You'll start seeing these posts beginning September 8th and lasting through the month of September.
Here are some ideas to get your brains thinking:
- Wake up 30 minutes to 60 minutes before everyone else--start the day out right and enjoy a cup of coffee by yourself! And if you aren't a morning person, try starting 10 minutes before the kids get up.
- Start the kids' lunch the night before to give yourself extra time to be organized the next day
- Pick up a good book & read in bed
- Meditate
- Sit outside and soak up some sun
- Call a good friend you haven't spoken to in awhile
- Buy someone a cup of coffee
Let's have some fun with this! The more people that post, the more we can come together as a community and support one another!