How to nOurish yourself during a busy season of life
The summer is traditionally a time of abundance and celebration. Years ago, the harvest season was a season to eat fresh food, celebrate the abundance and send gratitude to Mother Earth for all she gives us. In modern times, that is all still true (and in my opinion important). In summer we eat and dance, spend time with friends and listen to music. Our social calendars are full and the days are joyfully long.
It's a dance between joyful and exhausting, fulfilling and draining-- a dance that many of us know all too well. But what if this year, it looked a little different? Instead of pressing GO until you crash, what if you took some time each day to nourish yourself-- inside and out so that you can fully enjoy your summer of abundance.
An intention for myself this summer was to enjoy and embrace the abundance without totally burning myself out. I'll be honest, some weeks I did great, others, I feel like I collapsed into bed only to wake up moments later. I remind myself over and over again that it's a practice, not perfect.
Personally, in the midst of all the hub bub, I did I let some of my normal rituals fall to the wayside to make way for more work and more of what others wanted.
Isn’t it funny how when life gets busy the first thing we throw out the window is the stuff that makes us feel good? It’s easier to push ourselves to the side, instead of others. It’s easier to do all the things that other people are counting on us for, instead of the things that WE are counting on ourselves for. It’s easier because putting yourself FIRST requires saying no to something or someone else.
I will be the first to admit and raise my hand that I am the QUEEN of this. Call it people pleasing, call it neglecting myself, call it whatever you want– it’s not good for us friend!
Who is ready to take some new energy into AugusT?
Say it with me “I will not put other people’s needs/wants/desires above my own mental and physical well being”
LOUDER (so it reaches the crevices of my brain)
“I will not put other people’s needs/wants/desires above my own mental and physical well being”
Okay now that we have that out of the way…. How do you take better care of yourself?
The good news is there are so many different ways. One of the most powerful things is finding what works for you. The second most powerful thing is learning that what works for you might shift and change over time and seasons of life (and nature).
Here are some of my favorite ways to Nourish myself during a Busy Season of Life:
Start my mornings alone:
I love snuggling with Chris and Darry but I also love a few moments of quiet before the house wakes up and we all get going. Even on the days I don’t have to be up before Chris, I tend to wake up even 10-15 minutes before him so I can take some time to sit alone– usually outdoors or in front of my red light. The summer is full of so much outward energy, social commitments and time with others. Even the extroverts can use a little time to center their own energy and check in with themselves. Sometimes this looks like journaling and sometimes this looks like staring at the woods outside and letting mind wander. Either way, it’s for me
2. Make sure you are eating enough:
I am not proud of it (and I’m going to blame it on my time in the corporate Physical Therapy world) but when I am busy, the first thing to go is a lunch break. One of the kindest things I have done for myself the past two weeks is actually block off at least 30 minutes for a sit down lunch between clients, classes and calls. Not only do I stay Fueled but a little time away lets me get into the rest of my day feeling refreshed and re- energized. Skipping meals will leave you feeling fatigued, tired and burnt out faster than anything else. You deserve to eat.
3. Exercise outdoors
Sunshine & Endorphins= a recipe for a happy Kerry. During a Busy season of life, it can feel hard to do all the things. For me, I was trying to workout 30-40 minutes a day and take some time outdoors to soak in the sun. Sometimes, it just didn’t make sense. UNTIL, two things happened: 1. I got a bike 2. I found a walking trail that is 2 minutes from my house. Both of these things not only allowed me to exercise but helped me get outside as well. I could ride out the front door on my bike, get my butt kicked for 25 minutes nad be back in the house in 30 minutes. It felt exhilarating and challenging, hard but re-energizing. This new walking path allowed me to take the dog outside and take in all the benefits of mother nature and walking without having to travel too hard. Make it easy on yourself and kill two birds with one stone– find new ways to exercise outdoors.
4. Restorative Movement
As I have been on my feet more and using my body more, some of my movement practices have looked different– I’ve turned to restorative movement on my long days. Whether you teach back to back classes like me, or you just have a day full of meetings, sometimes the last thing you want to do is motivate yourself to workout. I get it. And while I will always say, that something isd better than nothing. I also believe that you have to listen to your body. During a busy season of life– restorative movement like rolling out, gentle stretching, somatics, restorative yoga and gentle walks can go a long way to help support you mind, body and soul. When you don’t have gas left in your tank, try some of these more restorative practices
You can see some of these are from a previous challenge I did but they were TOO good not to share!
Really when it comes to taking care of yourself during a busy season of life sometimes the best thing to do is to say NO when you really truly mean no. Often times we say yes to things we think we should be doing or because we don’t want to disappoint others. The most nourishing thing you can do is NO.
Other than that, it takes time to learn what works for you and what doesn’t. Finding rituals, routines and habits that fuel your active, busy lifestyle is a powerful practice in showing up for yourself and quite honestly, has changed the cousre of my life for the better. I am grateful for my rituals even when I fall off the wagon.
You deserve to feel good in your mind, body and soul.
Find ways to fuel that.