Self Care is Healthcare

Self Care.

Several years ago, as a practicing OB GYN and mom, these two words were not in my vocabulary.

I mean, don't get me wrong. I enjoyed a relaxing spa day every now and then, but slowing down daily was not meant for me.

Yoga- no time for that. I need to "really move my body" when I exercise.

Journaling- Why? I know how I think and feel, and it's all good. Its gotten me far in life, right?

Meditation- The thought of sitting still for that long sounds like torture.

W O W.

Was I confused.

About so many things.

And understandably so.

As a physician mom, being maniacally productive and efficient with a go, go, go attitude, checking off boxes left and right, had served me well for many years.

-It got me through 80+ hour work weeks in residency.

-It got me through every other night 24 hour calls for weeks at a time.

-It got me through a debilitating post c-section infection.

-It got me through extremely stressful situations.

Journaling for 10 minutes a day, meditation, and a slow easy walk outside, sadly enough, went against everything I was trained to be.

But if life was so amazing, why did I need more and more recovery time after my call nights to be a productive member of my family?

Why did I start experiencing stress related symptoms that almost led to the removal of my gallbladder?

Why did I armor up instead of feeling anything deeply emotional?

I had to slow down and figure out the real me.

Sit with myself and ask some hard questions.

Ask myself, what do I desire AND require every day.

These answers took time, energy and effort to unearth.

But they were undeniably worth it.

My answers led me to...

-Take more baths- soak longer.

-Journal daily. Listen to yourself. Listen to your feelings behind the words.

Its ok to feel those feelings, Kristin.

-Prioritize sleep for you and your family. The goal is 7-8 hours.

-Practice gratitude every day.

-Let people help you. You were not meant to do this alone.

-Do more yoga. The still kind. Where you lay on your face.

-Dance in the kitchen with the kids. HELL, DANCE MORE PERIOD.

-Celebrate more- the unique AND the everyday.

-Wear fuzzy things that make you feel cozy.

-Say thank you.

-Pay it forward.

-Find your people. The one's that accept you when you are killing it

and lend you a helping hand when you need it.

-Support and empower women at your job and in the world.

-View mistakes as "learning oppurtunities"

-Talk to yourself with kind words.

-Practice walking meditations if you don't have time to sit still.

-Set loving boundaries.

Self care. Self love. Whatever the catchy tag line is this week as we wrap up this bustling, aka frantic, holiday season.

These acts are your own personal health care for yourself.

They look different for everyone.

And that's ok.

They feel different for everyone.

And that's ok.

Because it's personalized. Made just for you.

Some days we need more self attention and some less.

But we ALL need daily attention.

If you listen closely to your body, you get cues on what you need that day.

Listen to yourself. Your body is innately smart. It will never lie to you and holds the answers to what you need.

xo,

Kristin

Do any of these self care acts speak to you? Try a few out this week and let me know how it goes.

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