‘Too Busy to Take Care of Myself’ Episode 3 – Pillar #2

In full disclosure, I am a little nuts right now.  We are in the middle of moving, my dog had unexpected surgery, work is VERY busy and my husband’s back is out and we are awaiting surgery for him on the 5^th.  Yes, I can and will do it all.  Or at least that is what I think.  If I can just focus on doing everything for everyone else, I may come close to getting part of it done and then having a meltdown when I finally realize I can’t keep all the balls in the air. I am exhausted, feel like I am getting a sore throat and completely stressed out!   And it is only Tuesday.  Lord help me.  No, really, I mean it—please help!  

It is amazing to me how quickly I lose sight of taking care of myself when someone or something else needs my attention.  I tend to toss my own care out the door first without a thought or even a quick sideways glance over my shoulder.  This is pervasive amongst women over 50 as we have been doing it for so long it’s like muscle memory.  We go into auto pilot and just start picking up where everyone else left off, often backtracking to do things even just a bit tidier or nicer than they left them and then continuing on from there.  Is it any wonder why we make ourselves sick?

Self-Care is the second Pillar in the 12 Pillars of Wealth and Impact Creation for Women over 50.  Next to Pillar #1, Mindset, it is the most important and yet, the one we are most likely to bypass just like a slow driver in the left lane going down the interstate.  

Why? Because it is a habit.  As women, society has taught us to keep going. To take what comes at us, figure it out and keep moving forward.  They more they give, the more we take and the cycle never ends…until we do.  We either give up due to total and complete exhaustion or we finally realize there has to be a better way, and there is.  

Self-care is self defined.  It can be taking the time to work out, take a walk, enjoy a hot bath, get a massage, have a little Botox, visit with a friend or do anything at all that brings you peace and calm.  The key to success is being consistent and that, is the part that becomes a challenge.   So, I have a little challenge for you.  In the morning, before you get out of bed, take a deep breath.  Make it so deep you feel it in your belly and then all the way down to your toes.   Then, follow it by 9 more deep breaths.  Do this before anyone knows you are awake.  Or, if you get up before everyone else, do it while you sit on the side of the bathtub, or with a steaming cup of coffee on the front porch.  It takes about 1 minute.   After 3-4 breaths, you start to feel something amazing.  It’s called oxygen.  Yep. It’s true.  We rarely take the time breath deeply enough to get that beautiful and euphoric feeling we get from good old O2.  Try it, I think your body will LOVE it…and, it’s FREE! 

Next, take 10 minutes to stretch, take a walk around the neighborhood, or do some quick exercises.  I do 2 sets of 25’s—sit ups, push ups and squats.   Yes, I realize it won’t qualify me for the Olympics.  It isn’t my goal. My goal is to fill my body with some wonderful oxygen and then wake it up with a little movement.   It is a quick 1 + 10 minute morning routine that we can all do.  Try it and let me know what you think.  And, if you want to participate in the challenge, try it 3 times a day.

 I know what you are thinking—‘Whoa, Karen— 3 times a day!!!   33 minutes just for me!!! That might be too much!’    I jest, but only a little.  I get it.  Sometimes we feel so selfish that we don’t even take those 33 minutes for ourselves.  But this week, let’s all agree to take baby steps in practicing a little consistent self care.  Take 10 deep breaths and then do 10 minutes of any kind of movement that feels good to you, 3 times a day.   Do it for 7 days and let me know how you feel.  And, if it feels good, why don’t you go ahead and try it for a second week or two?  I mean what do you have to lose except a little stress, a little overwhelm and a little insanity? 

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Sincerely,

Karen Schaefer
Founder of W.I.N.; the Women’s Wealth and Impact Network

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