When you’re feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or just out of sorts in general, it’s easy to compromise and neglect yourself purely out of burnout. It can even lead to missing out on great opportunities you’d normally say a big yes to.
When you feel yourself in this place (we all end up there now and then), one of the best paths to taking your power back and creating a massive shift fast is…
Radical Self-Care.
I’m not talking about your basic day-to-day self care and bare minimum maintenance, but an actual full-scale mission to self-care and self-love yourself back into a good place again…back to YOU.
This mission, should you choose to accept it (please do!), may take anywhere from a day or two to a few weeks, and your soul will tell you when it’s complete.
Willingness to drop some things and put your self care at the top of your list is truly the magic formula for getting your light back and feeling great again. It takes strength, because you may have to disappoint some people (cancelled plans, saying no to invitations) in order to do this, but it’s so worth it. It’s an invaluable skill when you want to stop feeling overwhelmed, catch your breath, and return to feeling like the beautiful, amazing, loving person you truly are! (Yes, you are!)
Any time things get tough or frenzied, self-care is usually the first thing to go out the window, when in truth it’s when we need it the MOST. No one wants to spend a big chunk of time feeling tired, grouchy, and not their best. And being willing to step into radical self-care mode is almost always a way to get right again. When you do this and the shift happens, you can actually feel your energy and zing coming back deep in your cells.
A viral quote from my book Operation Happiness that has been circulated around social media in many different languages (love that!) is:
“Caring for your body, mind, and spirit is your greatest and grandest responsibility. It’s about listening to the needs of your soul and then honoring them.”
Sometimes, this feels easier said than done. Because when life gets crazy, we tend to:
Forget to set boundaries
Not take time to rest
Neglect our appearance
Put off exercise
Bypass the little things that bring us joy and pleasure
Put our health and wellness on the back burner
Put the needs of others or a situation above our own needs and desires
Too much of all this can lead to an actual personal crisis or worse. And, yes, I’ve definitely been there!
So much overwhelm and even anxiety is either exacerbated or entirely caused by a self care deficit. So, tuning into this truth and shifting focus to the needs of your body and soul is likely exactly what you need to get back to being the best version of YOU.
In most any state or situation…self care is the way to your power back.
It’s also how you:
Regain clarityStart to feel like YOU againBe your best self for those who matter to you
Heal your heart
Live a healthier, happier life
Empower your soul, yourself, and your life
And, it’s how you can get to a place where you can count yourself IN again.
Life’s truly magical! We should FEEL like it is each day. Radical self care is the key to getting back on track when you need to (or when your soul just needs a tune-up), and to embracing and living your most magical life.
Some of my favorite self care practices include:
- Lots of sleep (with no alarm to wake up to), followed by coffee in bed with a stack of paper magazines – this one is especially helpful when I’m feeling overwhelmed or like a total mess in general
- An at-home spa day where I give myself a body scrub, facial, mani-pedi, and time to just putter around the house (Good jazz, candles, and wine are of course part of the festivities). I love to listen to the Stacey Kent station on Pandora.
- Unscheduled time off (aka mental health days)
- Planning a future vacation. I love having something magical to look forward to, and the planning process is fun and tends to help snap me out of any funk
- Taking extra time for spiritual practice and personal growth. This might be a yoga class, meditation workshop, or any sort of inspiring masterclass that will move me forward in an area that’s important to me
- One-on-one time with a dear friend to talk about life and goals
Your needs matter, beautiful Friend. Start making them a top priority. This is actually how you can show up more as the best version of you for you and others in your life.
How will you prioritize yourself and practice radical self care today? This week? The rest of this year and beyond? Be sure to check out my post on Three Simple Steps to Loving Yourself More for additional helpful tips.
Much Love & Magic,
~ Kristi
Ready to create more joy?
Grab a copy of my bestselling book (hardcover or audio): Operation Happiness – The 3-Step Plan to Creating a Life of Lasting Joy, Abundant Energy, and Radical Bliss (Rodale/Penguin Random House)
