This summer is shaping up to be a BUSY one already, for the whole Howard fam!

It can be easy sometimes, to get sucked into the overwhelm.  Trying to find time for growing the business, studying, training, shopping for and preparing healthy food (so we can have the energy to do all that other stuff), carting D to his activities, as well as all the other basic life and work stuff, can be tough!  Can anyone relate?  How many balls are you juggling in the air right now?  Does anyone else have to keep a working to-do list?  If I’m not writing all this stuff down, forget it.

Sometimes, as we get wrapped up in our lists and busy calendars, stress can start to take hold.  When that happens, our sympathetic nervous systems kick in, and we go into a “fight or flight” response.  The stress from work deadlines, heavy training volume, or overall busy-ness can all have the same effect, and cumulatively, the effects of stress begin to take a huge toll on our health.

While ultimately, our physical health can suffer in the form of impaired digestion, insomnia, and lowered immunity, to name a few, our mental health suffers greatly as well.  When we get into a state of overwhelm, we can easily lose focus and clarity, and our emotional set points can become very low, causing us to become irritable and lose our temper easily, when we wouldn’t normally otherwise.   This can seriously affect our motivation, because when the brain is in a stressed or overwhelmed state, we unconsciously begin to look for ways to avoid stress, typically procrastinating tasks that we would otherwise be more motivated to take on.  Ever get squirreled by Facebook, when you’re supposed to be emailing clients?  Anyone?  Surely that’s not just me :).

So how do we avoid getting to this point and letting it affect our mental and physical health?  These days, we are hearing more and more about the importance of self care.  Taking a little break now and then allows the mind a little “reset,” often providing the renewed motivation to get back on track, allowing us to be more present.  It can also provide some critical PHYSICAL energy, when we have been running on fumes.

This past weekend, the boys and I took a few days up in Flag to unwind and BREATHE.  It was a great chance to get out of the heat, get away from the work environment (hard to do and necessary when you work from home), unplug, and recharge.  As a result, I felt like I came home yesterday with a renewed sense of motivation, more clarity, and was able to organize my week (and the coming month) into manageable chunks.   I planned my work, and I’m workin’ my plan!!

Self-care doesn’t have to mean traveling ~ It can be whatever helps you to relax and recharge.  Massage, a day by the pool, a drive in the mountains, a facial, reading a book, meditation…   Any activity that helps slow the hamster wheel in your head and gives you a mental and physical boost.  Even taking a few minutes each day to do some deep breathing can be remarkably effective.

One of my favorite sayings is, ‘You can’t pour from an empty cup.  Fill your cup first and give from the overflow.”  I promise, if you make self-care a priority, you will be better able to take care of others in your life.  Selfless giving can really lead to overwhelm, so take the time and SCHEDULE your self care.  Make it inevitable.  Your mind and body will thank you.

And if you want help with making YOU a priority in your life, so you can experience infinite energy to deal with it all, let’s chat.  I’d love to help you!  Click on the “Schedule Appointment” button to book a strategy session with me!!

In good health…