Happy Valentine's Day! This week is a great time for some self love! When was the last time you did something nice for yourself?
We have a tendency to be so focused on getting things done, and taking care of all of our responsibilities that we rarely pause and refill our cup. Running like that will eventually lead to burnout. You can't pour from an empty cup!
I learned this lesson the hard way when I suffered a heart attack at only 31 years old. I was so busy climbing the corporate ladder and trying to be everything to everyone that I wasn't paying attention to the signs my body was giving me that I needed to slow down.
I shared in my first email this month my top tips for heart health. If you missed it, you can read it here. The hard part is figuring out how to slow down, and what works best for you! Taking a time out looks different for everyone, and what fills you up is unique to you.
Winter is perhaps one of the best times to practice self-care. The question I pose to you today is "what if true wellness actually means doing less?" Here are some ideas for slowing down:
Go outside and feel the sun on your face for 5 minutes
Read a book for 10 to 20 minutes
Set a 15 minute timer and do a few yoga poses
Have a cup of tea or warm water with lemon
Take a bath with epsom salt
Practice a spontaneous savasana - whenever you feel exhausted or worn out, give yourself permission to lay down for a few moments
I'll leave you with these words from Pico Iyer: “In an age of constant acceleration, nothing can be more exhilarating than going slow. In an age of constant distraction, nothing is so luxurious as paying attention. In an age of constant movement, nothing is so urgent as sitting still.” If you'd like more support in managing stress, self-care techniques, and ways to improve your eating habits, join me this Saturday, February 19 via Zoom at 10am MT for the rescheduled two-hour Body Owner's Workshop. We'll do some yoga, light movement, guided meditation, discussion and journaling. Register here to receive the Zoom info. If you can't attend live, you'll receive a link to the recording for registering.
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