Originally published October 13, 2024
I made some big changes around workload going into Q4 this year that were/are very bittersweet.
And after taking the last year off to de-center chasing medical things and just living for a bit, I'm jumping back into the deep end to try and get some answers around the unknown.
Since October 1st, I've had five doctor's appointments and am excited to start the second half of October with a 6-month strategy to embark on.
I'm not ready to share all the details yet.
But as I stare down some scary stuff...
I will be sharing bits and pieces of managing the mindset and emotions that come from it all.
We don't wait for life to be perfect around here to make moves, we accommodate our needs along the way.
I'm excited to share that part with you in this next phase.
Beyond the Bubble Bath
For many years I hated (with a capital H) the word "self-care". Which is hilarious when you look at the business I built.
I would eventually realize, it wasn't self-care that I hated.
But the portrayal of self-care all around us.
Where Instagram tells you it's all about fancy bubble baths and $200 facials, but your bank account's like 'How about a nap and some tap water instead?' 😅
It took so much rewiring to figure out that self-care is less:
🧖🏻♀️ spa day – though they can be sooooo nice and be a small part of a larger self-care strategy.
and more...
🔥 spar day – fighting off unrealistic expectations, dodging guilt trips, and saying 'I think the f*@k not' to the voice that says you're not doing enough.
And then I had to find the self-care that works for me.
Because what is good for others, might not work for me.
And vice versa.
As I started building out what my coaching and consulting would be, I knew from my own history that true self-care, specifically professional self-care, was a necessary focus for anyone looking to prevent burnout.
Self-care in a professional context means a variety of things like:
🙅🏻♀️ setting healthy boundaries
🗂️ prioritizing tasks effectively
🪫 knowing when to step back and recharge
🙋🏻♀️ advocating for your needs in the workplace
It looks like building habits and practices to:
🔍 regularly checking in with yourself
🌡️ assessing your stress levels
🏋️ taking deliberate actions to support your well-being
This might include anything from taking short breaks during the workday to learn a new skill that energizes you, or having the courage to say "no" to projects that don't align with your goals or capacity.
All of which is crucial for the work-life harmony you're aiming for.
They help you build a foundation for sustainable success in both your professional and personal life.
When you don't do these things, you risk burnout, increased stress, and decreased energy, productivity, and satisfaction in your work and life.
By prioritizing self-care, you become better equipped to navigate the ebb and flow of life's demands so you can still have the energy and enthusiasm to pursue the activities, interests, and relationships you love.
You might know all this already.
Many of my clients already do.
But there's a huge difference between having or having access to the knowledge and knowing how to implement it for yourself.
Which is why this week, I want you to...
Try This:
Create a Self-Care Menu
Before we dive into how a Self-Care Menu supports these goals without complicating them, I want to ask you to come into this week's exercise with a curious mind, compassion for all your parts (and their needs), and the willingness to step outside of what you already do for self-care.
Self-Care Menus are an incredible tool to keep in your bag for busy professionals, neurodivergent folks, and anyone looking to build a supportive system for your personal life.
In today's world, decision fatigue and information overload are rampant.
Did you know that by the time the average person goes to bed they've made over 35,000 decisions in a day?[1]
🫠🤯😳
Anything you can do to reduce and make decisions easier on yourself is something your brain will thank you for!
Enter the Self-Care Menu.
It's choose your own adventure time, folks!
