The 3 Pillars of Self Care: Restore, Nourish, Move
“There is only one you in this world, don’t deprive the world of your light”.
This is my favorite mantra for a very important reason: I believe it. With every fiber of my being. The number of unique, talented, kind and amazing women I get to meet throughout life never ceases to amaze me. Ever.
What also never ceases to amaze – are the number of women who put themselves last on the “care” list, if at all. I don’t know why this happens – only that it happens. It’s almost like we are naturally hardwired to care for others, yet feel guilty or selfish turning that same level of care towards our own needs, unless.…..
“I want to take care of myself for my kids…”
I wish I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard some rendition of this statement: “Well, I want to be healthy/happy/fit for my kids.” End of story. Candidly, it kinda drives me nuts. I mean look, I’m sure it’s important but must it be the main and/or only reason?
This statement is so prevalent, I can’t help but think it’s because we are paralyzed by the fear of others calling or labeling us selfish. As long as we are crystal clear that self-care is actually for someone else, it is “ok” to do something for you. Or so the theory goes.
I’m here to say that’s it is OK to put yourself first and take good care of YOU, because you want to do it for yourself. No guilt & you are not selfish. The benefit that the world & those you love will receive is the amazing ripple effect. It’s a total win-win.
There is only one you. Don’t deprive the world of your light.
The 3 Pillars of Self-Care: Restore, Nourish, Move
Now more than ever, Self-Care is vital.
RESTORE: Setting aside me-time for you and only you.
NOURISH: Feeding your beautiful body with foods that nourish & heal.
MOVE: Exercise, get the blood pumping, release happy endorphins
The highlight of our day – “Amazon has toilet paper!”
We’re all sitting in our homes, antsy, worried, bored as crap & trying to create some semblance of normalcy. I mean today Oliver was on his laptop & suddenly bursts out with – “Oooo! Amazon has toilet paper!” And I actually clapped my hands and giggled with unabashed glee! lol.
Anxiety, confinement & boredom create the perfect storm for overeating, eating unhealthy things, and basically being inactive sloths. The problem, is that doing these things contribute to feeling depressed, worried, pessimistic and down. Not fun, and not productive.
When times are stressful, and I know they are –
It is THE OPTIMAL time to eat healthy, exercise
and take time for yourself.
Why? Because healing your body & mind with Nourishing foods, Exercising & taking Me Time are incredibly powerful in helping us to deal with adversity, loss of control and stress. We don’t need a scientist to confirm whether or not this is true.
Use your own common sense. At days end, how do you feel after a day of nourishing meals, a good workout, and an hour for a nice hot bath, a face mask or a good book. Pretty amazing right? I always feel centered, calm and peaceful.
Self-Care is incredibly powerful in helping us deal with adversity. Sorry for the boob-shot ;-/
Now think of how you feel after a day of junk food and cake, sitting around like a sloth, being pulled in 100 different chaotic directions. Pretty crappy, right? Maybe a bit extreme, but you get the point.
Actively Look for Silver Linings
Admittedly I’ve always been a glass half full kinda gal. I undoubtedly got it from my mom. She was always the first to say, “It’ll be a good experience”, even when I’m sure the situation wasn’t exactly optimal. When my sister and I were 5 & 6, our family was transferred from our home on Greenlake in Seattle – all the way to Governor’s Island, a military base in New York City off of Lower Manhattan. (My dad is retired Coast Guard).
Leaving our home and friends in Seattle, we all drove cross-country in our pop-top VW Camper (remember those!), camping each night in KOA parks, in order to move into a small, government assigned apartment on a 3-mile island / military base. As little girls, my sister and I both looked to my mom to see how we should react. Are we scared? Are we upset? Are we worried? I remember mom shrugging her shoulders, saying “It’ll be a good experience.”
I’m sure she was worried, but she chose optimism. So likewise, my sister and I shrugged our little shoulders and said “It’ll be a good experience.” And you know what? It was.
The point is – there is goodness and opportunity in every situation. Even in the midst of a pandemic. Find the silver lining. As a matter of fact, look for and seek many silver linings.
Find the Silver Lining. It’s out there – waiting to be discovered.
“I’m so busy – I don’t have time to fix healthy meals / exercise / take time for myself”
If this sounds familiar – you’re in luck.
Now you DO have the time. Use it to create
NEW Habits & Behaviors that serve you.
Remember, it takes 28-days to create a habit.
+ NOURISH: Invest time to find & make healthy recipes that sound delicious. Focus on meals you can make during “normal life” that are quick, easy and make multiple servings for a few days of truly healthy, nourishing meals.
+ Cut SUGAR from your diet. Start by cutting it for 28-days (Sign-up for notification of my 28-Day California Sugar Cleanse Book). You have the time – just do it. See how amazing you’ll look & feel. Use this time to create New Habits & Behaviors that serve you.
+ MOVE: Get up each morning and workout. Easily stream any kind of workout on You Tube! There are literally thousands. From Yoga, Yoga with weights, Kick-boxing workouts, Cardio Blasts – at all different fitness levels and time frames. Stream it on your laptop – or if you have Apple TV, stream it on the big screen! You can always work out with me: 30-Minute Workouts!
+ RESTORE: We’re home all day for now. Carve out an hour, yes an hour – to do something that sounds super appealing to you that day. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination. The only “Rule” is that it has to be time just with yourself. That’s why it’s called “Me Time.”
Restoration heals us mentally, physically & emotionally. You are deserving of time set aside just for YOU.
A few ideas to get ‘cha started:
++ Close your eyes and listen to an inspiring podcast, like a Guided Meditation or something that motivates & inspires.
++ Read a good book
++ Take a leisurely bath or shower and do a mini-spa. I like to do this Home Facial!
++ Give yourself a mani/pedi, spritz your pillow with Lavender linen spray and get a good night sleep!
++ Write out your Goals or a Bucket List!
Spritz your pillow & linens with lavender, known to calm & relax
Final 2 Tips:
1. Create a Daily Structure
Structure acts as a positive rudder, giving purpose, optimism and a sense of direction. During this time, of course we’ve all had to make adjustments.
Here’s my daily “Pandemic Routine”:
+ Get up at 6am, have a latte & breakfast with Oliver. I usually have an egg-white omelet with a little feta cheese & kalamata olives.
+ Answer emails, play with the dogs. I’m easily entertained.
+ Work-out. I’ve set my yoga mat out upstairs, so I’ll stream a good workout or yoga video. The dogs lay next to me but go straight to Savasana. They look confused as to why I’m jumping around & not laying down and relaxing.
+ I invest the day working on creative ideas for Annie Parker, shooting videos, testing recipe ideas and the like!
+ Eat a healthy lunch. I’ve been on my Spinach-Waldorf-Salad (video) kick lately. I like the tart apples, fattiness in the walnuts, and creaminess of the goat cheese.
+ Eat a healthy dinner. I’ve been having my Very-Berry Fit & Glow (video) protein smoothie most nights. Other nights, we’ll make a salmon bowl….. grilled salmon, ½ cup of farro (it’s like a brown rice), broccoli, grilled onions & red bell, with a little Tamari sauce on top).
+ Around 8pm, we put the dogs to bed (they demand “Pupperoni” first). We go upstairs, watch a movie and sometimes do a face mask together. Lol – he’s going to kill me for that. 😉
2. A Positive Metamorphosis
I know this is such a weird, unheralded time. We are literally living through a historical, defining moment in our nation and globally. You cannot control the world – but you can control you.
Make the choice to find the Silver Linings – whatever they may be. See this as a positive metamorphosis taking you from old life – to new life. Define it. How does the new life look? How do you want to feel? What changes do you want to come of this experience? What have you discovered about yourself and your life, now that you’ve had time to reflect?
We’re going to get through this, and we are going to be fine. A new normal will develop, and I believe without a doubt – that this is a good thing. The world couldn’t keep going down its previous path.
Those who consciously look for Silver Linings will thrive and emerge renewed, like a snake shedding its old skin. As women, we are warriors. We are ingenious, resilient, & tough as nails wrapped in a soft pretty packaging. Let’s make the best of this and come out stronger the other end. 😉
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