It’s a go-to for lots of folks in their self-care routines.
Try something new—no need to break the bank!
A small act of pampering can be just as refreshing as a lavish treat.
Maybe it’s scheduling a manicure or having a relaxing bubble bath with candles.
And if your budget allows, a spa day with a friend can be an awesome recharge for your body and soul!
Celebrate Today
Look, treating yourself isn’t a regular thing for many of us.
But guess what?
You can start changing that today!
Think of something you’ve been eyeing within your budget—maybe those awesome shoes or that phone upgrade.
Give yourself the green light to make that purchase.
Even a small treat can give you a real lift!
Enjoy the Little Things
Self-care doesn’t always have to be a big deal.
It’s often the little moments that count the most.
Treating yourself to those tiny luxuries can brighten your days more frequently.
What’s on your list of little things you’ve never tried for yourself?
How about buying yourself flowers? Trust me, having that beautiful bouquet around is a mood lifter!
And let’s talk about your favorite treat—why not make it a weekly thing? Try something new like exploring different truffles each week at your favorite chocolate shop!
It’s all about getting creative and having fun with it.
Adding new experiences to your self-care routine keeps things interesting and can also help make them more meaningful.
Plus, it’s just fun!
Make A List Of 5 Simple Self-Care Routines You Can Fall Back On When Needed
When things get tough, self-care often takes a back seat.
Stressful times can make it hard to focus on anything beyond the basics. But guess what?
That’s when self-care becomes even more important.
Having a self-care toolkit ready to go can be a lifesaver during those rough patches.
Imagine having a go-to list of self-care practices ready to lift your spirits when you need it most!
Here are a few more tips and tricks to help you navigate those challenging moments.
Make a List
Let’s dive into your self-care backup plan!
It’s like your go-to self-care toolkit, a list of five easy-peasy activities tailored for those whirlwind moments.
Having these reminders close at hand lets you reap the rewards of self-care without overthinking it.
Think simple yet essential, like hitting the sack a bit earlier for some quality Zzzs, munching on nourishing meals for that energy boost, or giving yourself a nudge to ask for help when things pile up.
These tiny self-care nuggets shine the brightest when life goes into overdrive!
Make a Self-Care Package
Here’s a cool way to keep self-care front and center when things get tough: create your own care package in advance!
Load it up with things that make your heart smile—a great read, herbal teas, a soothing face mask, comfy slippers, and maybe a playlist of your favorite tunes.
Whatever brings you joy!
Having this package within reach when stress hits can be a total game-changer and instantly lift your spirits.
Involve Your Crew
When the going gets tough, it helps to have a support crew!
Reach out to your trusted friends and family and let them in on your self-care game plan.
Share how much it means to you and ask them to give you a nudge if they notice you slipping on self-care.
They often see things we might miss.
Having your squad looking out for your well-being can be a total game-changer during stressful times!
Planning ahead is key to keeping your self-care routine strong even when life gets tough.
Remember, those rough patches are when self-nurturing matters most!
Self-Care Doesn’t Have To Cost Anything
Self-care often gets misunderstood.
People sometimes feel like they need to earn it or that it’s an indulgence.
But let’s flip that script today!
Self-care isn’t a luxury; it’s a must for everyone.
When we prioritize our well-being, it’s a win-win for us and those around us.
After all, you can’t pour from an empty cup!
Here are some wallet-friendly ways to show yourself some love.
Put Yourself in Time-Out
How about a timeout for some ‘me time’?
Treat yourself to a cozy nook, a warm cuppa, and some soothing tunes.
Take a moment to pause, relax, and gather your thoughts.
It’s a simple luxury that works wonders!
Waste Some Time
Sometimes, we’re so focused on staying busy that we forget the joy of simply chilling out.
Taking time to unwind with your favorite Netflix series, a pet cuddle session, or a sweet nap isn’t just okay—it’s essential for recharging!
Do Some Writing
Not a wordsmith? No problem!
Keeping a journal is like a soothing balm for the mind.
Scribbling down what makes you grateful is a happiness booster.
And trust me, pouring out all those swirling thoughts in your head? It’s like a refreshing brain detox!
Plus, jotting down future dreams might just light that spark inside you!
Phone a Friend
Staying connected is a mega boost for self-care—even for us introverts!
We thrive on those heart-to-heart chats.
So why not ring up that old buddy?
Or hop on a video call with your online bestie?
Even better, meet up for a cozy coffee date or a stroll!
It’s those connections that can light up your day in ways you didn’t know you needed!
Get Out
Sometimes, a tiny change can be a big deal!
Even a walk around the block can zap away that cabin fever feeling.
If you’re up for it, a low-key staycation nearby could be a mini adventure!
New scenery, new vibes, all without breaking the bank.
A little shift in perspective can work wonders!
These are just a handful of ideas to treat yourself without breaking the bank!
They’re a fun way to dip your toes into self-care.
Remember, you absolutely deserve to invest time and energy into your well-being! You’re worth it!
Don’t Feel Guilty For Practicing Self-Care
It’s totally normal to feel guilty about self-care, but guess what? You deserve it!
Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish—it’s like recharging your batteries, and that makes you even better for those you care about.
So, let’s ditch that guilt and dive into why self-care is super important and totally okay!
It’s Not Selfish
Self-care isn’t selfish—it’s a must!
It’s easy to feel like others’ needs come first, but here’s the deal: taking care of you doesn’t mean neglecting others.
It’s like they say on a plane—put your oxygen mask on first, then help others.
You’ve got to take care of yourself to be the best for everyone else!
Self-care is Necessary
It’s not selfish; it’s necessary.
Taking care of yourself is essential to being your best for everyone else!
Have you heard this one:
If you can’t change the people around you, change the people around you.
What?
Sometimes you need to reevaluate your circle of friends.
I’ve been through this—I had to distance myself from certain people to stay true to my own path.
They supported me in tough times, but charting my own course became crucial.
It Sets a Good Example
Taking time for self-care isn’t just beneficial for you—it sets an awesome example for your kids!
And even if you’re not a parent, showing yourself some love can inspire those around you.
Normalizing self-care is key to breaking down the stigma.
When we openly talk about why it’s important, we help others rethink its significance too.
Let’s spread the self-care love!
Self-care Demands Respect
When you show you value yourself and invest time in your well-being, it sets the tone for how others treat you.
Saying no and setting boundaries isn’t just good for you—it strengthens your relationships.
It shows people how you want to be treated and that you prioritize yourself, guilt-free.
It might take a while to shake off all those messages society has ingrained in you, but with practice, you’ll see the beauty of self-care without the guilt.
It’s a journey, but totally worth it!
Tips To Continue Taking Care Of Yourself
Self-care is like a new habit you’re trying to pick up.
It takes practice and patience, so don’t stress if it feels a bit challenging at first.
Soon enough, you might even find yourself looking forward to those self-care moments!
I know that life gets busy, and sometimes it’s tough to keep up.
Here are some tips to help you keep the self-care train rolling even during those hectic times!
Follow Your Gut
During those crazy busy times, it’s easy to slip into autopilot mode.
But let’s not ignore those gut feelings!
When you start feeling frazzled or extra tired, it’s not a sign to power through.
Nope, that’s your body waving a little flag saying, “Hey, I need a breather!”
Also, watch out for other signals, like being extra cranky, eating all the wrong things, or skipping sleep—those are signs too!
Listen up, they’re saying, “Hey, it’s time to take care of yourself!”
Schedule It In
Here’s a little tip that might help you sneak self-care into your bustling schedule: write it down!
Yup, treat it like a legit appointment.
Set a specific time to start and finish, jot down what you’ll do.
This way, you’re more likely to make it happen.
When life goes bonkers, it’s tempting to push self-care aside, but hey, that’s when it’s even more important!
Create a Plan
Creating your self-care plan is key to looking after your well-being.
Remember those ideas I shared earlier?
Having your emergency self-care list and care package in one spot can be a lifesaver during crazy times.
And don’t forget your list of trusted peeps to call for a self-care boost!
Having that support can make all the difference when you need a little nudge to look after yourself.
Your tribe’s got your back!
Checking in with yourself is key to self-care.
Self-care requires checking in with yourself and asking yourself how you’re doing physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Celebrating the holidays and slowing down for some relaxation may seem like an oxymoron.
But you CAN do it.
And I encourage you to.
With the hustle and bustle of the holidays, sometimes it is hard to find the time to just stop and let yourself recharge.
As business owners, it is extremely important that we take some time for ourselves.
Last month, I encouraged you to plan for the new year.
If you have not had time to do so, I would definitely get on that.
Then sit back and enjoy the rest of this holiday season.
If you are like me, it is very hard to just sit back and relax.
There is just always something in my business that I feel needs my attention.
Like tweaking those goals I just wrote.
Here are some tips that I found and will be remembering myself as I spend time with my loved ones this holiday season.
WHY Celebrate the Holidays
Regardless of your beliefs, I encourage you to take some downtime.
There are just so many benefits to recharging your batteries.
I always find that my productivity goes up after the holidays because I am relaxed and ready to head into the new year.
The relaxation and rejuvenation you get over the holidays will not only reduce stress, but also enhance your overall well-being.
Finding balance during the holidays is easy. Spend time with loved ones!
The biggest benefit to me is the chance to reconnect with loved ones.
As busy business owners, it is so easy to put off connecting with loved ones.
Always another project, client, etc.
Use the holidays to strengthen your relationships and create lasting memories with your family and friends.
Preparing for the New Year
The holidays are a good time for reflecting on the past year.
Reflection allows us to look back and learn from successes and failures to gain valuable insights and improve future outcomes.
Setting goals for the new year creates a roadmap for success and lets you strive for personal growth and achievement.
It also helps you to develop strategies, prioritize tasks, and align actions with your long-term ambitions.
Embracing Balance and Self-Care
It is so important for business owners to find a harmonious balance between professional commitments and personal well-being.
We also need to spend time nurturing our mental and physical health through mindfulness, exercise, and healthy habits.
This can be done by pursuing our hobbies and interests since our focus is on celebrating a reenergizing ourselves.
Embracing self-care and finding our balance again can fuel creativity, passion, and personal fulfillment by dedicating time to family, hobbies and interests.
The Joys of Giving
The holidays are not all about the physical gifts that you give.
You can easily spread happiness and joy to others through acts of kindness and generosity.
This includes creating lasting memories and meaningful experiences and treasured moments that will be cherished for a lifetime with those you love and cherish.
It also helps you to build stronger connections and forge deeper bonds with individuals and communities by giving back.
We all can make a difference in the world by supporting causes and organizations we believe in.
The Magic of Traditions
Embrace the warmth and nostalgia of cherished traditions.
Whether it’s gathering for a holiday meal, decorating the house, or exchanging gifts, traditions weave together the fabric of our lives, connecting generations and fostering a sense of belonging.
My Personal Favorite: Indulge in Festive Delights
Delight your taste buds with festive feasts filled with sumptuous dishes and tantalizing flavors.
Indulge in the sweet joy of freshly baked holiday cookies that melt in your mouth.
Savor the warmth and comfort of a steaming cup of hot cocoa on chilly winter nights.
The Beauty of Winter
For those of us who live in the colder climates, step out into a winter wonderland and embrace the enchanting beauty of the season.
From glistening snowflakes to frost-kissed landscapes, immerse yourself in the peaceful serenity and breathtaking sights that winter has to offer.
Any of you who know me know that being cold…NOT my favorite thing.
However, there is absolutely nothing like standing in the middle of a snowstorm, listening to the pure silence that the snow falling surrounds you with.
Find balance during the holidays by creating new traditions.
AMAZING.
Those who live in warmer climates, don’t forget that you can always create a winter wonderland to enjoy.
Maybe that can be one of your new family traditions!
The goal here is to get yourself reenergized for the new year.
Some of you may remember a previous post I made, Live Laugh Love.
Spending time with your loved ones should always be a top priority.
You never know what tomorrow will bring.
Create those memories this holiday season, and I’ll see you in the New Year!
Have you ever found yourself angry with YOU because something you’ve worked so hard at isn’t just exactly perfect?
No? Just me? Hmm.
Today, we’re talking about perfectionism and some ideas my coffee-saturated brain has on overcoming perfectionism.
Perfection is highly desired, so perfectionism must be good, right?
It seems like our society applauds being a perfectionist.
It’s made out to be a good thing in all forms of popular media and across social media.
Except for the fact that true perfection isn’t possible.
Sure, there are traits perfectionists have that are good things.
Drive, ambition, the desire to improve. Lofty goals and the dedication to work hard to achieve them. A desire to be the best you can be.
All of these things are absolutely good character traits.
The problem is that perfectionism takes all of these and pushes them to toxic levels.
Even “great” becomes “not good enough” and every goal achieved, no matter how lofty, must be succeeded by an even harder goal.
Accept it as part of your personality.
If you’re struggling with perfectionism, know that you can get move beyond it and live a much healthier and more rewarding life.
You just have to work hard at making progress over your perfectionism.
You CAN do this. And the outcome will be more than worth it!
So, are YOU a perfectionist?
Perfectionists tend to set unrealistic goals for themselves and others.
Here are some common characteristics of perfectionists. If you recognize yourself in this list, you probably are a perfectionist.
Perfectionists Set Unrealistic goals.
Do you want everything to be perfect?
Do you set standards so high that even Superman would have trouble meeting your expectations?
It’s these impossible-to-meet standards that lead to frustration and anxiety.
You are Extremely Critical of Yourself and Others.
Because you want to meet those high goals that you set and/or expect others to set them, you are hard on yourself and others.
Especially when mistakes or “failures” happen.
You might berate yourself or others or get angry when things don’t turn out as you expect.
Perfectionists Tend to Only Focus on Results.
Do you enjoy the journey towards reaching a goal?
Or are you so focused on achieving the goal that the process doesn’t matter?
Growing and learning along the way is often the best part of reaching a goal, but if you can’t see anything except the goal itself, you’re probably a perfectionist.
You Have a Huge Fear of Failure.
Are you terrified of failing?
Does the thought of making a mistake make your blood run cold?
Do you have nightmares about failing to live up to your own expectations?
Fear of failure pushes most perfectionists to work even harder and faster to avoid the dreaded outcome.
Perfectionists Have All-or-Nothing Thinking.
You believe that if it is not perfect, it does not count.
Let me give you an example of perfectionism.
We live on a 100-acre farm. As with most farms, we have a VERY long driveway.
A few years ago, we decided that we wanted to line the bottom (we live on top of the hill) of the driveway with Dogwood trees.
And we wanted to alternate them, pink and white.
Off we go to get our tress, relying on the employees at the place to give us 12 WHITE and 12 PINK dogwood trees.
Naturally, some of the pink…are white.
And they’re not ALL trees. Some of them are Dogwood BUSHES.
Most flowers on Dogwood trees are rounded.
Several of ours are pointed. Those are the Dogwood bushes.
Move forward a couple of years when the trees start to bloom.
Overcoming perfectionist tendencies can be hard, especially when out of your own control!
Instead of alternating colors, we have three or four of the same color in a row.
And the flowers are different on some of them.
Cue the perfectionist.
Colors must be alternated.
Bushes must be swapped out for trees.
Yikes! This is going to be a lot of work.
OR we can let them grow where they are.
We also found that the white bloom before the pink. Most of the white flowers are gone before the pink pop.
Who’s going to know?
Well, being perfectionists…WE will know.
Now, in case you’re wondering…no, we didn’t dig out the offending “wrong” trees and toss them.
Remember…100 acres. The ones we did replace have found happy, new homes elsewhere on the farm.
Some stayed put, because we’re working hard to overcome our own perfectionism traits!
And guess what…not one single person has EVER commented about the fact that there are more white dogwood trees than pink lining our driveway!
It’s quite likely no one has even noticed this phenomenon!
Perfectionism isn’t all bad.
It may seem that way, given the negative effects that it can have on a person and their life, but that may not be so.
Perfectionists share many positive traits that are highly desired and lead to success in life.
The problem occurs when these traits are taken too far and become toxic.
Jeeze, where’s the positive?
Well, here are a few of the positive qualities most perfectionists share.
They Have Big Dreams and Drive.
Perfectionists share a passion for lofty goals and the drive to work for them.
This is an incredible thing.
Many people never even consider setting the kind of goals a perfectionist takes for granted.
This gives perfectionists a much better chance of succeeding in life.
Perfectionists Are Driven to Excellence.
There’s nothing wrong with having standards, and that’s what perfectionists excel at.
Perfectionists often perform better and create better end products because they have such high standards.
They Are Very Dedicated to Completing a Task.
It is hard to find someone more dedicated to reaching a goal or succeeding than a perfectionist.
Perfectionists as a whole tend to work harder and longer than most to achieve whatever they set their minds to.
Perfectionist give over-attention to detail
They can become almost single-minded in their pursuits.
The desire to achieve can move them to think outside the box, increasing the odds of success.
Perfectionists Are Extremely Detail-Oriented.
The desire for perfection lends itself to paying attention to the small things, and perfectionists tend to be detail-oriented people whose sharp eyes will pick up on flaws, glitches, and other hard-to-spot details that most people miss.
They Refuse to Accept Failure.
Many perfectionists don’t know when to give up, or even if they should.
This stubbornness often leads them to achieve incredible breakthroughs in their field, whether it is in sports, science, medicine, etc.
Each of these qualities is a good thing, and no one thinks you should give them up in your quest to overcome perfectionism.
They’re part of who you are.
Too much of a good thing becomes unhealthy, however, and your challenge as you struggle to make progress over your perfectionism is going to be to rein in the good things about being a perfectionist just enough that they are healthy and helpful rather than a problem.
Mistakes Don’t Make You a Failure.
No one likes making mistakes.
This is especially true for perfectionists. You want to do everything perfectly.
When something goes wrong, it may feel like the world has ended and that you’re a failure.
But mistakes and failure aren’t the same thing.
Even if something you tried to do didn’t work, even if it “failed” spectacularly, that is not the same thing as failure, nor does it MAKE you a failure.
Good is the enemy of great. But perfect is the enemy of everything.
Remind yourself that whatever the mistake was, it does not reflect on who you are or on your worth as a person.
Admit the Mistake.
It might be tempting to pretend the mistake didn’t happen, to brush it off like it was nothing important.
This might salvage your bruised your ego, but you won’t learn anything.
Figure Out What Went Wrong.
Do you know what caused the mistake?
Why did it happen?
What led to the issue in the first place?
Was it something you did?
Something you didn’t do?
Were there causes beyond your control?
Try to determine the root cause of the issue.
What You Can Learn from the Mistake?
Mistakes might be painful, but every mistake is an opportunity to learn and grow as a person.
If you just step back and take a look at the mistake, figure out the cause and see what lessons you can learn, you can then apply those lessons in the future so that you don’t make the same mistake again.
Perfection isn’t possible, but self-improvement is!
Start Each Day Fresh.
Every day is a brand-new day.
Don’t dwell on the mistakes you made yesterday, the things you didn’t get done, the bad (or even the good) things that happened.
Every day is completely new.
It’s a 24-hour gift just for you.
Start each day as if it’s new and fresh and no other days have happened, and you’ll free yourself of much of the stress that comes from undone tasks and past mistakes.
Focus on the Process, Not the Results.
Remember that having goals is great and is good for everyone, but it’s not the most important part of trying to reach the goal!
The process is much more important than the end result.
Instead of focusing on the amazing progress that you’ve made, or the results that you’ve achieved, you focus on what you didn’t do or what didn’t go just right.
Learning and growth all occur while you are striving to reach the goal, not when you actually reach it.
Redirect your mind to the process when you catch yourself focusing on the end result.
Focus on the work you are putting in and not the results you hope to achieve, and you will go further than you’ve ever imagined.
Reward yourself when you overcome perfectionist traits!
Reward Yourself.
Who doesn’t like being rewarded? Our brains love it.
They are structured to respond to rewards-the more immediate and the more desired, the better.
How can you use this in your quest to overcome your perfectionism?
Set rewards for yourself for doing (or not doing) specific behaviors.
These should be specific rewards that you love, that you have easy access to, and that you can have immediately.
Those of you who know me or have been following my blogs the past few months know that I am a coffee-holic.
So, when I want to reward myself…COFFEE!
Try New Things.
The drive to be perfect all the time can make it hard to try something new when you know you are not going to be perfect at it from the start.
The way to overcome this problem isn’t to avoid trying new things.
The best way to overcome it is to try new things more often.
In fact, make it a habit; aim to try several new things every month.
Your mind will become accustomed to being a beginner and will help you get out of the habit of expecting perfection (or even excellence) the first time you do something.
Look at your progress and what you’ve done.
Maybe things haven’t changed too much, but they certainly have changed.
Take a good long look at where you are and where you started, and you will see the changes!
You may not be you want to be yet, and you’re not making progress as fast as you would like, but guess what?
That’s okay.
Nothing good gets completed in a hurry (remember that old saying about Rome?) and you can’t change a lifetime worth of habits overnight.
Small steps are the way to go.
The smallest baby steps add up over time and will completely change your life.
It takes patience and dedication, but it is much easier to remain committed to small changes than to try and make giant leaps!
May Busch, EXECUTIVE COACH, SPEAKER, ADVISOR, AUTHOR, ENTREPRENEUR has some additional, great tips on overcoming perfectionism – check out her article!
So start to recognize it in your own behavior, and experiment to find the ways that work best for you to apply it only in those situations when it’s needed. That way, you can make the tendency toward perfect work for you, not against you.
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