Women will spend days on end… and sometimes months and years… taking care of someone else. From a spouse to the children or aging parents and needy friends; we are born to be givers, nurturers and caregivers. What we tend to forget is that we have to treat ourselves as kindly and carefully as we treat others.
That’s why it’s important to acknowledge self love during February; a month dedicated to all things love worthy. If you don’t know where to start in showing yourself love then this is the perfect post for you. Here are THREE things you can do almost immediately to show yourself love:
- Handle the basics: When is the last time you gave yourself a facial? Slept for more than five hours? Or enjoyed a completely fulfilling and healthy meal without having to get up and down to help someone else? If you don’t know the answer then it’s way past time for some self-care. Today, make sure to fit in 10 minutes of exercise, eat a nutritious meal and turn in at the kids’ bedtime.
- Put up a fence: There are too many people and things needing your attention so you’ll need to establish boundaries. The next time you are asked to do something you really don’t want to do or don’t have time for just say “no.” When I finally started saying no to people I felt a renewed strength and, in the end, was able to complete what I needed to do with and for myself and my family.
- Give yourself a break: Most women are too hard on themselves. It’s time to forgive yourself, learn and move on. We’re all human and we all make mistakes, the key is to learn from them and not wallow in them.
On the material side of things, I’m sure I don’t have to tell you to buy yourself something special this month. Treat yourself ‘cause you deserve it.
By the end of the month you should have the hang of self love, but don’t let it stop there. Do something for yourself each day; you’re worthy of the attention and care. The bonus is by treating yourself well you’re teaching your young girls that self love and care is important. And you’ll teach your sons that it’s something a mom or woman should do for themselves and he’ll be supportive when he marries and she wants to take time for herself.
Have a love-ly month.
Photo credit: Thinkstock
