When was the last time you took time just for yourself?
In my women’s wellness keynote, I often ask the audience to think about the thing they used to do, that they liked so much, that they just don’t seem to have time for anymore.
Think about it:
- When did you stop playing guitar, or singing?
- When did you stop knitting, or sewing?
- When did you stop going to girls’ night, or the coffee hour?
- When did you stop taking time to do things that bring you joy?
Last night, even though I felt guilty leaving my family on a school night, I accepted an invitation to join a group of “Women with Guitars.” What fun! For two hours I sang songs that brought back memories of camp, college, and childhood. Joy. I can’t remember the last time I sang like that!
Today my voice is a little sore, but my spirits are high.
Spending time with cool people doing something you love is a great way to reduce stress and refocus on what is good.
So, what is is that you used to do?
Find a way to fit it in.
You deserve time to lift your spirits, reduce your stress, and have a little joy!
Do something just for you – and for your heart health too!
7 Responses to “Do Something Just for You”
Eliz,
I have never given up my “outside my norm” activities. I bowl on Thursday nights, we have a girls weekend every mid January, (14 women, 2 nights, and lots of fun), deer hunting opening weekend Christmas shopping with another group of women. These things I do for my mental health, and to just leave my worries at home.
Kathy
Good for you!!
Hey, I just wanted to say thanks for sharing the post! American Heart Month is a very important public health awareness month, especially given the number of people who are affected by cardiovascular disease in the United States. I certainly think that it is about time we start taking better care of our hearts, but it starts with more education and better awareness of how we can adapt more heart healthy habits in our everyday schedules.
Thank you Steve! I agree, more education and better awareness are vital.
I’ve found that when I have clients pick up an activity they used to love doing that has somehow fallen to the side of the road, the reclaim a lot of joy and vitality. They may continue doing the activity for awhile, and then find themselves growing into other pursuits, leaving that earlier activity behind once again. But there is a difference: no sense of loss or incompleteness. It’s as if the return to the original activity has brought them wholeness and the passion to try something else and move forward in their lives. But their new sense of aliveness and simmering energy remains theirs to keep.
It is very important for me to have “me time” to rejuvenate. This weekend at a Transformation Workshop, many of the speakers spoke of the importance of caring for yourself first. Then you will be able to give from your heart, because your well is full…
Thanks you for sharing such a positive post! I also wanted to say that I really agree with what Steve has stated in his comment. If I am not mistaken, more people die from heart disease than anything else in the United States (I believe the annual number of deaths is more than 2 million). This really is a truly scary number that deserves more attention. However, i don’t really remember seeing much on television about American Heart Month during February. This is unfortunate, as I certainly believe that more people could be reached on this issue.