Consistent Self Care

Throughout the year of 2020, I made self care a very important part of my life. Self care consisted of finding ways to do solid work outs and movement without a gym. It included meditation using the Calm app. I spent time journaling and writing. I worked with a coach. I had an accountability buddy. I made intentional social connections from socially distanced walks to Zoom gatherings and banana bread making contests via zoom. I made reading before bed, turning off my phone and getting a good night sleep a priority. My self care was very consistent during 2020 and when I fell away from my self care routines, I always went back to them. I had built habits to have experienced how impactful these small acts of self care can make large changes.

So on the other side of 2020, I spent some time this summer going on an actual vacation- the first one since 2019. And I found that continuing some of those self care routines while on the road was important. I was not as diligent about the frequency of some things such as meditation and journaling but I stayed very active with creating “on the road” workouts from bringing weights in the car on a road trip fore garage workouts to going on runs to using a friends home gym. I took time to read. To breathe. To have some alone time amongst the chaos of travel and vacation.

I realized when I got home from vacation that because of these self care routines that I remained consistent with, I felt refreshed at the end of vacation. Not like I have in the past where I would say, “I need a vacation from my vacation!” because I went full bore and didn’t take time to do the things that brought me calm.

Now, after vacation and heading back into golf season and coaching, I understand that self care is so necessary for me to be my best. When I am taking the time to take care of my mental and physical health and putting it as a priority, this spills over to other areas of my life. I am genuinely happier, have higher energy and show up fully in my work and my relationships. This is all by doing small acts daily or weekly. These small acts of self care have made such a huge difference in my life.

So I ask you- what are you doing to take care of you? What routines and habits are you incorporating into your life? What small activities can you add into your day that will yield big results? I encourage you to keep doing the things you are already doing and to take other small actions to take care of you. You deserve it.

Keep going. you got this. Your future self will thank you.