Practicing What I Preach: Self-Care
A quick google search would tell you that “self-care” is the practice of taking action to preserve your own health. It can be taking a rest, scheduling an appointment to the doctor or to the spa, taking a yoga class, and generally focusing some of your energy on yourself.
Lauren Leavell wearing a Ban.Do baseball tee
Working out can be a form of self-care but not necessarily when it is your career. When you see my workout schedule, I am guaranteed to be there because it is my job. It's just like any other job where you have regular hours and you show up for them. However, when I post about self-care and taking rest, I don't actually have to show up for myself.
On Friday night, I felt like I hit a brick wall of exhaustion and fatigue, I realized that I have not been practicing what I preach. I felt like I couldn't explain why I was so tired, why I was so sore, and why I just had no desire to do anything else but lie on the floor. Then I realized I had not failed myself just for one day, but for multiple days.
I started thinking about the last time I had taken time off to NOT participate or help others. I tried to recall the last time I deep conditioned my hair, or had a full nights sleep. It has actually been weeks.
I acknowledge I have a lot of privilege and I can take off when I need to but unfortunately I have not been allowing myself the time and space to recover.
So what am I doing today to make sure that I can bring my best self into this week?
I actually called out of one of my classes to do things around my apartment uninterrupted.
Making appointments and updating my calendar so I can stay organized
Eating food that makes me feel good instead of skipping meals or eating whatever I can get my hands on
What can you do this week to take care of yourself?