In today’s society, it seems like there are endless demands on our time and energy. It can be hard to find the motivation to take care of ourselves when we’re constantly feeling overwhelmed. But taking care of yourself is one of the most important things you can do—after all, you can’t take care of others if you don’t take care of yourself! So how do you make taking care of yourself a priority? It doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are a few tips to get you started.
The Bug and the Windshield
Sometimes, in life, you’re the windshield, and other times a bug.
When you’re the bug, it feels like life is spinning out of control. You’re a victim to whatever wind current life sucks you into at that moment. It’s confusing to be the bug, and it’s defeating.
The windshield, on the other hand, can be compared to a king. The powerful and confident leaders that know no matter what life throws at them, they will stand firm through it all with their crowns secure in place atop their heads as if saying “no” this could not touch me. The windshield doesn’t care if it’s raining out. It is anchored and won’t be spun about by life.
How do we get back to being the windshield?
You probably remember a time when you felt less overwhelmed and more in control. I often talk to women who say they’re feeling overwhelmed and don’t know where to start. Feeling overwhelmed leads to a type of paralysis.
Then one day you realize, despite your best intentions to the contrary, you’re eating more junk food than healthy snacks and exercising less. You can’t remember the last time you checked in with your loved ones. It’s interesting to me when women say, “I feel guilty because I don’t spend as much time with my loved ones,” when they’re feeling overwhelmed and depleted.
I’m going to let you in on a little secret.
The better care you give to yourself, the more you will have to give to others.
It’s a tricky little equation that at first glimpse doesn’t seem right. Most women will say, ”Dr. Purcell, I’m a giver.” Of course, you are. You’re a woman. You’re born to nurture, to give, and to create. You are to bring beauty to the world with all of your talents.
Something I’ve learned over the years is that self-love isn’t selfish, it’s necessary. If you want to perform and function as your best self, self-love is essential. When you take better care of yourself, you have more to give to others.
The Airplane Analogy
Do you know the airplane analogy about oxygen masks? If you’re traveling with a small child, you’re supposed to put on your own oxygen mask first before helping the child. It’s pretty simple logic, really. You can’t help anyone if you’re not breathing yourself.
And yet, we often don’t follow this advice in our own lives. We try to take care of others before ourselves, putting our own needs last. We think we’re strong enough to handle anything and we can always take care of everyone else.
Yet, for many of us, we do for others first, forsaking ourselves and our own needs. And then we get depleted, get burned out, and feel resentful.
Am I talking to you today? Reaching into your bag of tricks for survival, do you find there’s not much left? You can re-enter the game with a new perspective and approach. Start by taking care of YOU first!
A Few TLC Tips
Make sure to take care of yourself, too! Adding some extra TLC to your daily routine can make all the difference.
Tip Number 1.
Unclench your jaw, relax your shoulders, rolling them down and back. Make sure your shoulders are dropped away from your ears.
Take three deep breaths. Breathe in through your nose, hold it, and breathe out through your mouth, holding it for a few seconds.
Do this three times.
Tip Number 2.
This time you need to stand up to stretch out your arms and legs to shake them out.
Then, some arm circles.
This particular exercise pumps the lymphatic ducts right under the middle of each collarbone. The lymphatic system is essential for proper circulation and the removal of toxins from the body. Maintaining this network of channels requires regular pumping, which can be done through this exercise.
Tip Number 3.
Next is to drink a tall glass of water.
You can confuse hunger and thirst. You might think you are hungry, but you might really just need water. Drink a 16-ounce glass of water before looking in the fridge.
Tip Number 4.
Go and tell somebody you love them. Did you know that men respond to touch really well? So if you have a partner, reach out and grab their hand, touch their shoulder, smile, look into their eyes, and connect.
Or maybe it’s time to call a girlfriend or someone who’s been on your mind that you haven’t reached out to in a while.
And finally…
Get a picture of yourself as a little girl, maybe when you’re five, six, or seven. Put it on your desk. Smile at her. Tell her she’s cute. Send her some love.
Be the windshield again
If you’re exhausted, you’ve drained your tank dry. You’ve got chronic conditions piling up and you’re feeling paralyzed by them. You don’t know where to begin, that’s where I come in. I specialize in helping women just like you turn their health and their lives around. I help you get back into the driver’s seat so you can feel like yourself again and be “windshield” the majority of the time.
It can be easy to get lost in the chaos of life and forget who we are and what we want. We become like the bug, stuck to the windshield, going along for the ride. But it doesn’t have to be that way. There are a few things you can do to help yourself get back on track and become more anchored in your life. Remember, it’s okay not to be okay sometimes. If you find yourself struggling, reach out for help. And always keep in mind that you can always come back to being the windshield whenever you need to. Have you tried any of these techniques? If so, how did they work for you? I would love to hear about your experiences through a free consultation when you schedule a discovery call with me.
The self-love I have for myself is something that has helped me throughout my life. If you are feeling lost in your own personal journey, please contact us and we’d be happy to schedule a discovery call with you. During this call, we can discuss your symptoms in more detail and come up with a plan tailored specifically for you.
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DISCLAIMER: The information in this email is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All content is for general informational purposes only and does not replace a consultation with your own doctor/health professional
