If self-care feels out of reach

May 2025

Successful people know how to prioritize self-care.

Wellbeing is not negotiable for these highly functioning folks. They also want it for you, which is what makes them leaders.

Successful people manage their energy (not just their time), and value cultivating and protecting the self-care habits that make them, and others around them, successful.

Self-care skills are some of the most important you can ever learn in your life. I'm not talking about the latest trend in face masks (although those can be quite nice).

I'm referring to the kind of unapologetic love and respect that you have for your whole self, that does not skip quality sleep, nutrition and daily movement for short-term gains that will be forgotten by people that will not show up at your funeral.

When you truly embrace self-care you aren't concerned about "setting boundaries". You know when to show up for yourself, and others notice.

When self-care feels out of reach, keep calm and put the kettle on! 

As my Scottish mum would often remind me, “everything can be solved over a cuppa”.

You don’t need to wait until life is moving into overwhelm to choose to ground yourself in a self-care routine that nourishes you every day. In fact, science validates that taking small but regular daily breaks helps to interrupt and relieve stress before it leads to illness or chronic disease.

Self-care doesn’t have to be elaborate, expensive, or time-consuming to be effective.

So fill your cup - every day!

Accumulated stress and frequent “activation” of our parasympathetic nervous system floods the body with cortisol. If not released in a healthy way, stress not only disrupts our sleep, joy, productivity and relationships, but ultimately every aspect of our health.

Skipping regular breaks for rest and play opens the door to fatigue, burnout, accelerated ageing and chronic disease.  Health and longevity is the true measure of success! And successful people are successful because they know that their wellbeing is not negotiable.

Here are a few fun and easy ways to start adding more self-care into your day:

🌳 Put down your phone and go for a walk, or take a meeting outside today (and normalize the need for movement and fresh air),

👟 Book an early morning run or workout (when you would rather be sleeping), because it is hard but you know it is good for you and it increases your resilience and sets the tone for a great day and a better sleep.

💛 Ask for help when you need to.  We are all human. We can practice being vulnerable, drop ideas of perfectionism, and invite what we need to flow to us,

🥗 Make a delicious meal or two this weekend to share with someone who could use a lift. A gift that you can eat, just wow.

☎️ Reach out to a friend or loved one for no real reason (using the actual phone). Small and unexpected or random acts of love and kindness have a powerful way of shifting and spreading positive energy.

☕️ Sip a tea and sit quietly for a few minutes between tasks.  Your eyes need a rest too. In a world that values constant activity, try doing less to achieve more.

⛑️ Volunteer, donate, chat with someone down on their luck… you might be surprised at what you learn (about yourself),

😎 Experience something new this weekend, just for the joy of it. Creating a little awe in our lives is potent at shifting perspective.

💜 Speak your truth with kindness towards yourself and others. Say “no” if you have to and “yes” to something you truly need.

📆 Plan a “playdate” for yourself, not just your kids. Who said play is just for kids. Adults are pretty lonely it turns out, so even better if you can make some new friends or gather with old acquaintances to enjoy some laughter and lighten up,

👔 Clean out a pesky drawer, closet or pantry and give away something you aren't using. You can’t take it with you, so give some of it away now,

😴 Challenge yourself to turn off devices and enjoy an earlier bedtime. Winding down by 10pm and getting 7-9 hours of sleep is ideal for adults,

🌅 Try a short meditation or breathing exercise for a quick and effective reset. Breath-work can be up-lifting or down-regulating, you choose!

The ripple effect when you prioritize your self-care is felt by everyone around you!