Don't Be a Picklebump

When is the last time you took really good care of yourself? I’m talking about making sure you are eating great, minimally processed foods; getting plenty of sleep; exercising; and making sure that you not just sitting in front of a computer or a TV zoning out? Honestly, more of us, including myself, need to practice radical self care. We are over-scheduled, suffering from a lack of sleep, stressed out from _______________, and not coping because we are not taking care of ourselves. Most people want to take better care of themselves, but don’t know where to start.

Start slow and make incremental changes. I burst into tears the night I figured out I needed some radical self care because I was completely overwhelmed with all that I thought I had “to take care of.” After crying it out, I realized that I was being a perfectionist and that my first step in radical self care was that I was going to have to set aside that perfectionism. I sat back and thought about what would be the best thing for me to focus on. I decided it was sleep. The amount of sleep I have directly affects my mood, my ability to get the daily stuff done, my ability to be a good employee and my ability to avoid snacking.

I put a plan in place that focused on getting more sleep. It meant telling folks that after a certain time I’m not going to answer the phone because I’m getting ready for or already in bed. It means turning the TV and/or computer off at a reasonable hour so that I can wind down. Experts say that TVs can interfere with your ability to go to sleep.

It’s taken me a few months to get my overall numbers for sleep up to 7-8 hours a night. And I’m only human because occassionally I have still have a late night. But those don’t happen as often as they used to. The best thing though is that I feel better because I am well rested. I’m able to better manage other aspects of my life
because my batteries are recharged.

For me, sleep is the cornerstone of my new radicial self care foundation. Incorporating it into my life, has led me to make other changes such as improved food habits and more movement.

Take a little time for you and figure out what your your first step in radical self care is.