Taking good care of yourself takes some time and effort. For me, it’s not usually the effort that’s the problem… it’s the time.
Running your own business, handling client projects, and keeping up with things like yardwork, volunteer commitments, and spending time with friends and family… it can leave time feeling at a premium.
And that can easily lead you to cut out the things you do to take care of yourself… like eating home-cooked meals and getting enough sleep.
Now, nothing I’m going to say here will replace eating and sleeping well. But sometimes, you just need a quick self-care routine to keep you centered and to remind yourself that time for you — just for you — is important.
For me, one of the fastest and easiest ways to reconnect with my self-care routines is to link them to the elements. Not the Periodic Table ones. I’m talking about earth, wind, and fire… with a water back.
It takes about five minutes to do this, and it’s enough to reset me. To settle my thoughts, refresh my focus and sense of purpose, and to wash away any stress I’m feeling.
I take off my shoes and socks and go outside barefoot. I just stand in the grass, feeling the earth under my feet. I close my eyes and feel the breeze. I breathe deeply. And I pay close attention to the warmth of the sun on my face. After a few minutes, I head back inside, drink a big glass of water… and that’s it. I’m usually ready to get back to work.
There’s just something about nature that works as a fast-acting stress reliever.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. What if it isn’t sunny? Well, the thing I love about approaching nature in terms of the four elements is you can reorganize and rearrange this however it suits you. You could sit by an open window (air), light a candle (fire), and drink a cup of fresh-brewed tea (earth and water). Sip your tea. Watch the candle flicker. And breathe deeply.
Have a little more time? Draw a hot bath (fire and water). Add Epsom salts (earth) and bubbles (air). Again, breathe deep and let your mind wander.
These little rituals may seem silly, but they’re effective. Give them a try, paying attention to how your senses respond to each element. I can all but guarantee you’ll feel more relaxed, focused, and purposeful after you’re done.
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Have you ever undergone a writing fast? Deliberately taking some time away from writing by scheduling a “no writing allowed” break for a few days or even a week can renew your love and energy for your work. Suzanna Fitzgerald talks about her own recent experience with a writing fast in her latest Reality Blog. And she shares the guidelines she uses to determine if a fast is a good idea and how to structure it.
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Mark Your Calendar
Thursday: Our next Member Update webinar is happening this week. On Thursday, I’ll be talking about the value of change, why we resist it, how to embrace it, and how change can lead to growth and opportunity. Plus, we’ll look at some of the good stuff that’s recently been added to the site and the good stuff that’s coming up… including some changes of our own. 🙂
April 14: Our next quarterly Challenge is launching this week. (We’ll have a post going up soon with more details.) And because we like to set you up for success whenever we have a Challenge, I’ll be doing a Challenge Kick Off webinar next week to give you pointers and tips for getting the most out of this particular undertaking.
April 21: Then, a little later in the month, Jay White is joining me to talk about what he recommends to new writers to speed them on their way to success. Jay is a practical, down-to-earth guy with a lot of freelance writing experience, and he’s ready to share a bit of that experience with all of us. I hope I’ll see you there!
Around the Web
If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed or burned out from your writing business, here are some things you can do to help you recover and get back to feeling creative.
This article covers all the usual bases on self-care, but in the final bullet list, there are several new suggestions… including giving yourself a day to try new things and be really bad at them. Love it!
Looking for a new habit or two to help you with your writing productivity? You’ll find 10 ideas here.
Also, last month was National Poetry Month. Writing a poem can be a great creative outlet when you’re working on more serious projects. To get started, try one of these 30 poetry writing prompts.
That’s all for now. Make it a great week!
