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Self Care: My Non-Negotiable

April 2, 2017

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Between work, walks with Scout, keeping up with bible study and my friends, there just aren’t enough hours in the day. I know I’m not alone in that, amen?

I come from a long line of multi-tasking women. I grew up with the example of a mom who stayed at home to take care of 4 kids while doing all the book-keeping for the family business and also was the costumer of the high school plays, Sunday school teacher at church, and volunteer on all the school field trips.

I always thought being busy was a badge of honor and I think my friends did too. When we talk about what’s going on in our lives, as we rattle off the way too long of list, the response is usually “wow!” and “that’s amazing!”

Don’t get me wrong, I think making the most of each day is the way to live. I think that we should enrich our lives with hobbies and loved ones. But I’m here to rock the boat and say “busy-ness is NOT always a good, positive thing”. Because sometimes, that busy-ness means being run down, going 100 miles on an empty tank and that isn’t good for anyone.

I know that for me, as soon as I get too busy with activities and commitments, the first thing to fly out the window is eating healthy, sleeping enough, and going to the gym. In between all the crazy, I grab a quick burger at McDonald’s “because I have to eat something“. I skip going to the gym because “well, I don’t have time for that tonight”. And it isn’t a rare thought to think “I could stay up late tonight to finish this task and wake up early to make sure these things get done”.

None of that behavior aids the busy-ness. It doesn’t fuel me. It doesn’t keep me going. It’s like when a small rock hits the windshield. At first, it’s just a little piece taken out but eventually, it splits across the whole thing and needs to be replaced.

I’ve taken a long look at my life recently. When I get busy, taking care of myself is no longer an option. My house becomes a mess since it’s just a dumping ground for stuff and I grab the things I need next. My books get dusty. I realized that it isn’t the badge of honor of “busy-ness” that fueled me. It was getting everything done. Going to bible study and coming home to a clean house. Getting to eat the chocolate chip cookie because I had made it to the gym 5 times that week. Waking up each morning feeling refreshed because I went to bed at a reasonable hour.

It’s the balance. The delicate balance that keeps the machine humming. I’ve already started finding little ways to put myself first. It’s like they say on a plane “you have to put your oxygen mask on first before you can assist others.” With that mindset, you can put the guilt away. Sometimes, I sit to watch a tv show but feel such massive guilt that I’m not sweeping instead. But I have to say to myself, “girl it’s 9:00 at night! You don’t need to be sweeping!”.

The guilt is only in your own mind. But trust me, I feel it. It hits hard when the to do list has items that aren’t checked off. Or worse, items that get transferred over week to week. But I reprioritized. I put me at the top of the list because if I’ve taken care of myself, I won’t get bogged down.

I’ve started to recognize triggers for me. What makes me feel stressed out and how can I make sure those things are done first so I can be a girl boss the rest of the time?

So far my triggers are: a dirty house, unkept nails, eating unhealthy, not making it to the gym, leaving books unread, not getting enough sleep. So slowly but surely, I’ve put those at the top of those lists. I am a creature of habit, I need routines. Therefore, I have tried to incorporate those solutions into my routines so I don’t even have to think about it and I’m filling my own tank.

My first responsibility is to myself. If I take care of myself, the rest will fall into place. I realize that self-care is a journey AND a destination. I have to try different things, find what clicks. The balance is a hard thing to find but I know once I do, it’ll be worth it.

 


At some point, I’m going to do a follow-up post with what’s been working but I would love to hear what works for you. How do you fill your tank? What is the way you go about being the ultimate girl boss? I’d love to share and learn and grown because it’s so much better to now have to figure this stuff out on your own.

I hope you’ve had a beautiful Sunday and that you put yourself first as we head into a fresh month.

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Filed Under: Guides, Journals Tagged With: California, freedom, lifestyle, love, priorities, scout and bex, self care, taking care of myself

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@SCOUTANDBEX 
BIGGEST LESSON IM TAKING FROM 2020: ✨find joy i BIGGEST LESSON IM TAKING FROM 2020:

✨find joy in the small every day moments✨

Life is hard. And beautiful. And tragic. And inspiring. It’s everything all the time and all at once.

Stay grounded. Stay rooted in Christ and who HE is. We are living in a broken world but our feet stay firmly and humbly planted in the truth that is our whole and complete God.

Your identity is in Christ and the more you believe that and stay rooted in its freedom, the beautiful moments will become amplified and they will become a part of you.
Merry Christmas from our family to yours🖤 peace Merry Christmas from our family to yours🖤 peace on Earth and good will towards everyone ❄️
Silent night, holy night All is calm, all is brigh Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
'Round yon virgin Mother and Child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight!
Glories stream from heaven afar;
Heavenly hosts sing Al-le-lu-ia!
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born!
Silent night, holy night
Son of God, oh, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth

🕯
Merry&Bright✨ Got to show some friends my paren Merry&Bright✨

Got to show some friends my parents house all decked out in Christmas tonight over facetime and if that’s not merry and bright, I don’t know what is.

Lets file this one under: moments in 2020 to take with me

I hope you’re finding your own small merry and bright moments. I’d love to hear about them in the comments because ya know...sharing is caring and what’s more Christmasy then that?

📸: @jmgrant2016 as per usual
The Christmas season doesn’t look the same as la The Christmas season doesn’t look the same as last year or quite frankly any year before that.

In a very real way, I am so grateful for my health and my loved ones heath more than ever before. And more then ever, I feel supremely blessed for the relationships in my life near or far.

This may be a difficult holiday for you this year. Maybe you’re grieving. The loss of a loved one or a job or traditions. You might be spending this holiday alone or missing family members because they live far away and can’t travel.

Whatever it is, know you’re not alone. I see you and honor what your season may look like. We will get through this one way or another and on the other side, may we feel a little more blessed than we did before.

Love you all. Especially @jmgrant2016 who I wish I could stand in front of the Christmas tree at Disneyland with this year too🖤
Cheersing you with cocoa that Christmas Eve is jus Cheersing you with cocoa that Christmas Eve is just one week away!☕️🎄🔔

In case you have any Christmas shopping left, check out my new reel with my best tips for buying the perfect present every time🥰

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