Last week, I had Sunday brunch to catch-up with two of my childhood friends. As our conversation went in more depth, we somehow stumbled upon the subject of self-care and what does that really mean to each of us. We came to the conclusion that self-care is more than receiving a massage, facial, mani/pedi or whatever you may consider “relaxing.” Yes, it’s important to keep the outside looking fresh and rejuvenated, but what about your internal rest? We’re in the generation of always being constantly on the go, go, go! We're considered less serious if we aren’t #GrindingAllNight or #TeamNoSleep! When your body tells you to sit down, do it. Learn to listen to what your body is telling you and obey. It’s okay to step back and take a break; life is still happening with or without you on the move.
When you’re mentally unaligned, you’ll only be negative energy to everything and everyone around you – and, that’s definitely not what you want. To be clear, I’m not talking about the "sleeping for hours and hours" type of resting, but the kind when you say NO if you don’t want to go out for drinks one night to just simply catch-up on a book or to spend time doing one of your favorite hobbies. Everyone is different and we all require different maintenance; however, we all share similar signs in realizing that both our bodies and minds need rest. Coming from our brunch round-table discussion, here are three out of several ways to know when you need to shut it down:
1. You’re Emotionally Drained – a lot of times we over-extend ourselves to everyone around us and the cup has runneth over! You can't positively be present if you yourself are not whole. Put your mask on first before helping others! *Inserts #MicrophoneEmoji for the people in the back* "YOU'RE STILL A GOOD PERSON IF YOU PUT YOURSELF FIRST!" Don't beat yourself up if you can't mentally be there for your loved ones; it doesn't mean you love them any less. Take as much time to get yourself in order.
2. You're Stressed Out - This is a tricky one for me right here because I'm still a
work-in-progress with learning how to not take on too much. And to be quite honest, you can absolutely prevent this one from happening. Don't take on more than you can handle! The older you get, the more you'll understand the necessity of prioritizing what's most important to you at that time in your life. It's okay; you can't have it all together all the time. Learn to say NO and #LeaveThoseBurdensAtTheAlter
3. Small Things Irritate You - Piling emotional deficiency and stress on top of one another can cause all sorts of moodiness. At some point, we all deal with stress. Some people are more stressed than others. If you aren't aware of it, you'll find yourself subtly lashing out for no reason. The slightest situation can detour your mood just like that *snaps fingers.* When you're well-rested mentally, positivity has no choice but to flourish and your mood will be so much better. #ITsAllJustSmallStuff
This week, remember to unplug and get some internal rest - whatever that means for you. Your internal health is just as important as your physical health. I want you to be the best version of yourself in every way possible; do what's best for you at this moment in your life to find that balance and ALIGN THAT MIND!
Sending love and positive vibes your way!
Yvonne Camille