You-Time Equals More Productivity
I looked at my list of things to do for today when I woke up at 4:30am and wanted to cry because it was so long. Thanksgiving is a busy week with lots of family and friends coming in to visit. I’m hosting events and bringing food to others. My oldest is coming home from college. My two youngest both have basketball games and practice all week. The house needs cleaning, and I’m trying to put up my Christmas tree. Oh, to top it all off, our washing machine is on the fritz! (Read “Appreciate the Busy” for a reminder on why we do all of these things.)
I noticed that there wasn’t anything on my list that involved taking care of myself. I spent the last week sick with a bad cold and bronchitis, which I seem to get every year around this time. Stress can negatively impact our health, so why am I not scheduling time to keep the frustrations of the daily grind at bay?! I talk a big game about taking care of ourselves so we can better take care of others, but I haven’t been putting that into practice. I decided to make that change today.
After feeding the dogs and letting them out, I completed a workout at home. It wasn’t anything strenuous, but getting my blood pumping really energized me. I then spent some time stretching while I watched a tv show. I followed that with a nice cup of tea and a lite breakfast. I caught up with a friend from Michigan on the phone and even made time for a 15-minute Listerine and vinegar foot soak with ½ cup Listerine, ½ cup white vinegar, and 1 cup hot water to remove dead skin.
After showering and enjoying a morning of pampering, I must admit that I have been a lot more productive, taking care of errands while I was already out driving the basketball carpool and prepping some of the dishes I am making this week while doing laundry. I played music loudly while I cleaned, and it was so much more enjoyable to clean while singing and dancing! My to-do list has so many check marks on it, and I know it is because I scheduled some me-time today.
Here are my favorite ways to take care of myself so that I can focus on taking care of others:
- Reading provides an escape into another world, taking us away from the pressures around us. I love to get lost in a good book. It activates the creative and analytic parts of my brain to visualize and try to figure out the story.
- Listening to music elevates our mood and can help us focus. Music helps set mood and tone. When I have to be very productive, I love loud, fast songs with which I can sing along.
- Drinking a cup of tea or a glass of wine serves to relax. There is a beautiful art to preparing a cup of tea, and the ritual of opening a bottle of wine and pouring it is calming.
- Exercising is the ultimate stress-relief tool. It can be as easy as a walk or as fun as dancing. Training for a half-marathon (and kick-boxing) really helped me process my divorce. My new husband and I are celebrating Thanksgiving with my ex-husband, his wife, and a slew of family and friends. (Read more about that here!)
- Baking sounds strange, but I re-center myself with every whiff of brown sugar and vanilla that hits my nose. Most people find that a little odd, but if I bake something before I tackle a long list, I accomplish more.
- Talking to a friend or family member in person or on the phone helps us stay connected to those who care about us. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t talk to my sister several times per week.
- Napping for a short 15-20 minutes helps us re-energize. My grandmother religiously took a cat nap every day after lunch and was still out painting her porch, washing windows, and making the world’s best pies when she was 90!
- Planning for what needs to be done helps us feel in control of our day. Taking time to create a thoughtful to-do list on paper or electronically helps us see what is ahead of us allowing us to plan our time accordingly. My daughter has been making to-do lists since she could write. She says that making a list is the first thing she does when she feels stressed.
During this busy season of giving, we need to be reminded of the importance of self-care. Every time we are on an airplane we are told to take care of our oxygen masks before assisting others. It’s the same for the rest of life. If we aren’t energized and de-stressed, we can’t be effective. Please share some of the ways you take care of yourself. We would love to hear from you.
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