Eight Reasons You Should Be #1 On Your To-Do List

Sometimes I feel like a broken record, constantly advocating the benefits of self-care and how it has transformed my life over the last ten years.

But this past week confirmed that this message is one we all need to hear, over and over again.

I recently led a workshop for woman entrepreneurs at all life stages on how to work less and experience more. I call this approach the Empowered Entrepreneur —a topic I’m very passionate about.

Toward the end of the workshop, after covering a lot of essential ground related to running a small business, I touched on the importance of self-care; especially, for moms. And interestingly, this arena is where the most lively, passionate, emotional dialogue erupted.

They all seemed to grasp that self-care—cultivating an awareness for and responding to their physical/emotional/spiritual/mental needs—was fundamental to their well-being. And, they understood intellectually that they couldn’t build a business—much less function—when they were exhausted, harried, out of synch with themselves and running on empty.

But, were they ready to change their behavior and mindset to be more compassionate, nurturing and responsive to their deepest needs?

My ah-ha moment and initial motivation to learn more about self-care (read The Transformative Power of Self-Care from my book), came after having my son and realizing how vital it was for me to teach him to honor and nurture himself—something my sweet mother who battled depression most of her life, was never able to teach me.

What will it take for you to make this shift?

Consider the following “gifts from self-care” I’ve received over the years. When we renew ourselves by attuning and responding to our needs:

1. We feel more generous and can avoid building resentments toward others who demand our energy and time.

2. We naturally feel more loving, which makes us better friends, partners, parents and more enjoyable to be around!

3. We validate and honor our own worth, our essence, which naturally enhances confidence and self-esteem and lowers susceptibility to depression and anxiety.

4. We feel more alive and whole; we’re able to function at our best and do more of the things we want to do.

5. We renew and restore our energy supply and create energy reserves so we’re able to weather unforeseen challenges more easily.

6. We’re more present and calm; we can respond wisely, intuitively and effectively to a variety of circumstances.

7. We begin to step into our personal power (realizing our potential), which is our birthright.

8. We feel good on the inside, which leads to looking good on the outside. Nurturing your essence—inside and out—promotes well-being and vitality.

SUMMER SELF-CARE CHALLENGE

I invite you for the next thirty days to begin to become aware of how you’re feeling and what you need. Try a quick body scan before you even step out of bed in the morning. Just lie there for a moment and check in with your physical and emotional health. Are you overscheduled, do you need to lighten your load? Do you need to move your body or spend more time in nature? Are you dehydrated or are you eating something that is not enhancing your energy level? Do you need to say “no” to something or ask for help? Do you need to build in a day or evening to just rest (A radical concept, I know!). I have been focusing on self-nurturance for ten years and I still have a long way to go. But, hands down, this has been the most life-changing practice I have ever embraced. And the gifts that come from cultivating more compassion and love for myself, continue to greet me daily. I’d love to hear your comments around the theme of self-care. Cancer survivor Audre Lorde says it best, “Self-care is not about self-indulgence, it’s about self-preservation.”

Renée Peterson Trudeau is a nationally-recognized career/life balance coach, president of Career Strategists and the author of the award-winning The Mother’s Guide to Self-Renewal: How to Reclaim, Rejuvenate and Re-Balance Your Life. Thousands of women around the U.S./Canada are joining and becoming trained to lead Personal Renewal Groups based on the Guide, as a way to enhance balance and well-being in their lives.

Editor’s note: Leave your thoughts and comments below and you could be a lucky winner of Renée’s book The Mother’s Guide to Self Renewal: How to Reclaim, Rejuvenate and Re-Balance Your Life.