Hi My Favorites,
This post is for all the moms out there regardless of your occupation! We’re all in this together and I have some important tips to share on the topic of Self-Care.
Let’s Talk about it!
Now hear me please! It’s not okay to work your fingers to the bone and neglect yourself! As women we sometimes have the tendency to take care of everyone and everything else including our business and put ourselves last. We have to ask ourselves where did we learn this behavior? Has it been a practice that we’ve learned through our generational line that we’ve accepted as normal? Did we see our moms do this? I personally was raised by a single mom of 3, who once worked a full-time job and two part-time jobs to provide for her family. She never voiced it, but I know this was hard on her. One of those jobs included working to clean houses on the weekends, even taking me along at times, but I never heard her complain. She worked this particular part-time job until she was able to obtain the full-time job she desired, that would provide her with enough sustainable income to only need to work that one job. As my brother and I got older we began working while in high school to help and contribute.
What’s my point?
While, it can be a generational pattern (not a bad one) to work hard, do what needs to be done, make a decent living, etc., it is still important to make sure to prioritize yourself and set aside consistent, regular time for self-care. Remember, YOU matter! Not just because of what you can do for other people, but just because of who you are. The most important thing I want to leave you with today is SELF-CARE IS THE BEST CARE! I have the natural tendency to work tirelessly, but through years of experience I’ve learned the best way to accomplish anything is by taking care of myself really well first!
Here are some self-care tips that I have followed to nurture my own spiritual, physical, emotional, and psychological well being.
I’ve learned first and foremost to……
#1 -Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
#2 – Get a Good Night’s Rest. I have to be intentional about this. So I’ve developed habits to help me do this. For example, listening to worship music prior to bed, reading, taking a hot bath with my favorite “Dr. Teals” soak! I take at least an hour to an hour and a half to unwind from the cares of my day to ensure a good night’s rest.
#3 – Fuel Your Body Well. There is a saying, “You are what you eat”. I really don’t know who to credit for this statement, but it’s true! I can personally testify to this. I personally have learned that a plant based diet works best for me. This may not be for everyone, but for me, it fuels my body well. It increases my mental and physical stamina, and I find it very beneficial in keeping me balanced hormonally as well. As women, as we get older, our hormone production changes. To aid in the ease of this transition, I’ve learned to be intentional about what I eat. I practice intermittent fasting and drink plenty of water each day. I fill my diet with lots of green vegetables, particularly Kale and Brussels sprouts that contain a compound known as Indole-3-carbinol or I3C that has been known to be helpful in ridding excess estrogen from the body that can sometimes result in excess bloating in the abdomen area. In addition to this, I am also intentional about exercising during the week. I commit to exercising at least 5 days a week. I also take organic vitamin supplements that have shown beneficial to my overall health. I find that if I fuel my body well, I produce well, and I have the stamina I need to flourish in all of my roles! A wife, Mom, & CEO are three distinct roles that require a unique measure of my time.They each require me to be present and pleasant, therefore self-care is essential. My body is my Temple and from me everything else flows!
#4 – One Dedicated Day of Rest. Now this is one thing I absolutely love to do. I have one day of the week (Saturday) that I intentionally rest! NO laundry, NO cooking, NO playdates. Just NO! NO! NO! This is my day for peace of mind, watching television and whatever it is I desire to do for my own personal solitude. I don’t watch television ever during the week day so this is my day to watch a show or two or three and maybe even a movie! It’s a day that I look forward to every week.
Caring for yourself should not be a burden. It should be enjoyable. I am intentional about functioning in the roles God has given me the opportunity to serve in, therefore, I prepare to show up for each one of them wholeheartedly, but in order to do so, I had to learn that it requires me to care for myself first.
BE Intentional About You!
Well, I have throughly enjoyed our chat today! Remember the following four takeaways!
#1 – Pray without ceasing! (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
#2 – Get a Good Night’s Sleep
#3 – Fuel Your Body Well
#4 – One Dedicated Day of Rest each week
This is my Personal Mantra: “While I am a wife, mom, and entrepreneur, I don’t believe any one role should lack while I pursue the other. ” – Sherron Barnhill, CEO
Reference: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12840226/
Blessings To You & Yours,
Sherron
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. Any concerns or questions you have about diets that would be best for you personally should be addressed with the appropriate health care professional. All content on my site is for informational purposes only. All information shared about the compound IC3 (Indole-3-carbinol) and plant based diet was for informational/ non-diagnostic purposes only.
