Burning out is one of the primary risks you face as you work towards your goals and so focusing on self-care as a way to minimize the impact of burnout is one of the best investments you can make.
Lauren Rayborn
If 2020, during the height of Covid, taught me nothing else it taught me to value self-care. During that time my youngest daughter was in Kindergarten remotely, my youngest son was almost 2 but daycare closed down, I was working full-time in education remotely, and my husband was working from home. Initially I was just happy that we were all together and safe but I very quickly felt my mental health declining from being quarantined for so long and not having breaks to just be by myself. Eventually, I began to incorporate daily workouts before everyone else woke up so I had 30 to 45 minutes to myself before starting my day. Over the years, I have not worked out as much but I have incorporated monthly dates with my best friends, monthly facials, and I still wake up before everyone else to spend time in prayer and with myself. Read more>>
Tania Esponda Aja
I have never been like someone that prioritizes exercise, my family was always more culture inclined in every activity, but lately I have found a love for walking, specifically outdoors.
For me walking outdoors is about self care, is about not being in the phone and connecting to nature, to myself, to my breathing, to my conversation when I am walking with someone. And this new practice has allow me to be more creative in everything else I do. Has allowed me to reflect in specific situations before I act. And allowing myself some space, time and breathing between my thoughts and my actions. It has made me more aware of the importance of keeping my body and mind in balance to create art. Read more>>
Drew Boatright
Managing a small business while working full-time can certainly be challenging at times. For me personally, making sure to prioritize self-care has been absolutely essential to avoiding burnout. Drew’s Soaps is truly my passion, and I want to put my heart and soul into creating the best handcrafted products possible. But I’ve learned that in order to stay creative and energized, I need to make sure I’m refueling too. Otherwise, it’s all too easy to fall into a funk and lose sight of why I started this journey in the first place. Read more>>
Patty Rowan
The most beautiful and positive growth that I’ve seen in my life, has largely been a result of my self-care practice.
Every morning, while I’m still in bed, I practice gratitude. I found that for a while there, when I woke up, my mind would immediately go to problems or a running list of what I had to do that day. Not a very peaceful way to start the day. So I started listing 5 things in my mind that I’m grateful for. If my mind gets pulled into a problem or negative thought along the way, I’ll start again at number one until I’ve made it all the way to 5. Just like anything else, it’s a practice, but one I’m so glad I was consistent with, because now I often wake up naturally with positive thoughts! Read more>>
Ciara Love
When I was 21 years old, I was diagnosed with bipolar II disorder. I have always struggled with depression and especially anxiety, but I never thought it could be anything more than that. In the midst of the pandemic I was forced to face the reality of this disorder alone. I was unable to gain access to the resources I needed. Therapists were not accepting new patients, the ones that were didn’t accept my insurance and without a therapist I could not get the medication I needed. I had to learn very quickly how to self-medicate in order to continue leading the life I wanted effectively. So to answer your question, here are the top three things I do for self-care and how they impact my effectiveness. Read more>>
Topher Hall
My self care routine relies on prioritizing me. I know that sounds harsh, and self-care can be an unpopular topic sometimes but it is the truth. I know I can’t work effectively when I’m not in my best mental state. When there are always people waiting to grab time from me, it is crucial to take moments for myself. I take time to meditate, journal, pray, exercise, and play video games. These moments help me de-stress. Then, I can come back to my work with more intention, more focus, and fresh ideas. I can tell the difference in myself if I skip my self-care. I feel more on edge and less grounded. My mind and body always find a way to remind me to re-focus. Read more>>
gina kronstadt
I do major self-care daily. An hour a day of any combination of things. Being diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 1987 (which is still a bit of a mystery to the medical profession), I had to find what would work for me and ended up actually working with the doctors to let them know what helped with the pain management. I had to try many things over a few years to come up with the best way to manage the pain so I could continue my work as a violinist. Read more>>
Amy Meyer
My journey of self care began in 2013 when my youngest daughter was eight months old. I had one of those life defining moments where I knew something had to give. Having two children under two, married at the time, working full time at a marketing firm and building a photography business, with little support, I was beyond burnt out. I realized I had to model self care for my daughters and so began my journey into online fitness and helping other women learn how to prioritize their health and self care. As mothers, it is impossible to pour from an empty cup, and taking a few minutes a day to fill that cup is necessary to be the best mother possible. Read more>>
Billy Yamaguchi
I am diligent about my daily work outs. I focus also on: family time; meditation; mantras; clean eating; staying hydrated; dates with my wife; going to the ocean, galleries and museums for inspiration; staying in touch with my mentors; polishing my skills; traveling with my family; protecting my finances. Read more>>
Lesley Donne
As I coach clients about self-care, having my own practices in place is essential. Self-care comes in many forms – it may be meditation with a weighted blanket, or it could be setting healthy boundaries so I don’t get overcommitted. It could be EFT tapping on a pattern or learned limitation, or it may be self-discipline to exercise every day. For me, all of these apply. Read more>>
Ginger Renee
Well, my OG friends would tell you I’ve been a self-care queen since middle school, but I’ve definitely elevated my game. As a millennial, coming from the stereotypical generation of workaholics, taking time for self-care keeps me grounded. And staying grounded keeps me motivated and energized to be productive. My top self-care habits are: Read more>>
Misty EunJoo Choi
I write in a journal and ask myself some personal questions such as:
Why am I feeling anxious, impatient, dissatisfied, or lonely right now?
What do I need most right now? What needs to be fulfilled?
Is the form of my work truly representative of me?
Is this a story I can tell?
How can I become a better person after completing this work? Read more>>
Joanna Oates
I am a huge nature lover. I’ve found that the best way to take care of myself is to get outside and enjoy Mother Nature. My work requires me to sit in front of my computer screen for long stretches of the day which can be physically and emotionally draining. I intentionally push away from my desk every few hours to step outside, feel the Florida sunshine on my face, and take deep breaths of fresh air. Read more>>
Elaine Riley
Self care is something that I have come to take very seriously within the last few years. I think a lot of that focus comes from my journey of learning and practicing Reiki. I used to look at self care as things like getting a massage once a month or going out with friends every couple months. Now I have come to realize that it is something that should be practiced daily. Self care is the little things that you do each day that keep you in alignment and operating at your best energy. For me personally, it’s waking up early to have my coffee, meditate and do a Reiki session on myself before the kids wake up. I am at my best when I put focus on my own energy before using my energy to help others. It’s about filling your own cup up so that you have something to fill others up with. Putting on your own oxygen mask before doing it for someone else. It’s so hard to get into the habit of doing that because we often feel like we’re selfish to put ourselves first. If you’re doing it from a place of love though, a place of knowing that you will be able to provide so much more support to those around you by taking the time daily to pour into yourself, then its not selfish. It just makes sense. Read more>>
Carolyn V. Hamilton
There’s a reason, when you get on an airplane. the first thing they tell you about an emergency where the oxygen mask drops down is “Be sure to secure your oxygen mask before you help children or others.”
This illustrates exactly how I believe we should care for ourselves, so that we have the mindset and ability to help others. Read more>>
Louise Strano-Cashin
This is a great question! In my humble opinion, self-care is something that should be prioritized and done routinely every day for overall wellbeing. Self care often seems like a luxury and or something that there is not enough time for, but it does not have to be elaborate nor time consuming to reap the benefits. Read more>>
