Self care…

It’s an “execute” week in my life. That means, I am deep in the weeds of a project. I am hosting three days of workshops, in multiple locations, with the help of 2 undergraduate students. My days are long. My weekend was short. My body is tired. 

I used to think that I could plan my way out of these types of situations. I would find myself overwhelmed by responsibilities and my calendar, and spend my spare moments trying to figure out how I could never feel this way again. 

My head is bleary from lack of rest, I’m bone tired, and I feel like I’m holding on to an electrical current. Sometimes, these days just happen. 

So, instead of beating myself up for getting into this crazy space, I’ve decided to cut myself some slack. These high pressure spaces are part of trying and doing, and showing up in new ways. This is part of my life. 

This week, I’ve given myself permission to be human. To feel the feelings, to face the pressure, and to show up as I can. I’m practicing self care in my everyday life.

As I drove to work, I practiced simply being in my body. Feeling my hands on the wheel, my butt in my seat, and my feet on the floorboards. It’s harder than it sounds. 

I’m resting between sessions, taking deep breaths, and adding things to my to do list for after the event. Holding emails doesn’t come naturally for me. I’m saving them up for later and whispering words of comfort to my high strung self. 

I am tired, but not as overwhelmed as I could be. It feels like I’m taking steps toward self care. It’s messy and certainly not perfect, but I feel like I’m growing. Learning to let myself be human, vulnerable, and fallible has not come easily for me, but it is work worth doing… mostly, because I am human, vulnerable, and very fallible!

How are you doing in this area? Are you frustrated with your self for simply being human? Does your vulnerability make you frustrated or kind? How are you doing allowing for growth, challenges, and the inevitable bumps along the road? 

I hope you are finding ways to care of yourself even in the crazy times. 

“Imperfections are not inadequacies; they are reminders that we’re all in this together.”- Brené Brown