Become an Expert

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In the August series, Transformative Self-Care, we’ve talked about how you can take care of your physical, mental and emotional body. But be honest—are you still skeptical? Are you stopping yourself from self-care because you think it’s too self-absorbed or soft? Then consider this practical application: When you’re exhausted, tasks take longer because you can’t focus. You’re short-tempered. And your relationships inevitably suffer.

But you can turn burn-out around by becoming an expert at what self-care looks like for you. Let me guess—you’re already an expert in all the things that contribute to overload. You’re an expert at constantly worrying about what will happen next. You’re an expert at carrying burdens that were never yours to begin with. And you’re an expert at putting your needs last.

Instead, let’s stitch together everything you’ve learned about caring for your physical, mental, and emotional body and apply it to the whole self. Use the soft skill of healthy self-esteem to jot down everything that makes you feel good. If this exercise seems self-indulgent, brainstorm with your best friend. They can probably easily reel off a bunch of mood changers that build you up!

20 Essential Self-Care Practices

Here are 20 self-care practices to kickstart your list.Decide to become an expert at:

• Being kind to yourself.
• Finding inspiring content.
• Choosing foods that nourish you and taste good!
• Getting enough sleep.
• Quieting your mind.
• Moving your body.
• Wearing comfortable clothes.
• Being a loyal, fun friend.
• Releasing the notion that everything’s a mess if one thing isn’t perfect.
• Making shrewd time, money, and energy investments.
• Allowing others to be responsible for their choices.
• Loving small, incremental success rather than expecting blowout results.
• Being a loving partner.
• Staying calm amid a loud, complicated world.
• Detaching from problem people.
• Taking a break from devices.
• Aligning with people who offer clarity and helpful advice.
• Spending time in nature.
• Letting other people’s stress and strain bounce off you.
• Giving yourself second chances.

If you accomplish even half of that list, your wellbeing will skyrocket!

Four Ways to Practice Transformative Self-Care

Here’s a recap of what we’ve learned about self-care this
month:

1. Make a list of things to avoid in Your Warning Label. You can stop overwhelm by knowing your triggers.
2. Reclaim your power by letting go of relationships that are losing oxygen. Move Out of Fix-it-Ville once and for all.
3. Your voice is the one you hear most of the time, so make it a positive one. Change your self-talk From Hatred to Healed.
4. Become an Expert in what you need to refresh. That’s more than essential self-knowledge. Over the long haul, it may save you from burn-out!

Self-care isn’t passive or optional. It’s about intensely listening to and acting on your instincts for optimal results. Your gut tells you when your body should rest. Your mind prompts you to find a different kind of stimulation. And your soul is crying to be nurtured.

Don’t spend the last week of beautiful weather letting your in-box be the boss of you. Act like the creative, wise CEO of your life—a Soul Boss—and know when to shout, “It’s quitting time!”