Welcome Guest Blogger, Amy Riley of Loving the Pregnant You!
Most of us – hopefully – have some ways in which we do a good job taking care of ourselves. It’s great to acknowledge ourselves for the healthy self care practices we engage in regularly and encourage ourselves to maintain these habits.
If I look for myself, I can see that I’m good at scheduling nourishing activities such as workouts and massages into my calendar. Also, when I get overtired, I’m good at admitting that and I allow myself to take a nap. And, finally, I’d say that I’m continually engaged in some kind of coaching that nourishes me emotionally.
What good self care practices do you engage in?
Then, at the same time, most of us – also – have some ways in which we fall short with our self care. It’s good to recognize these as well. These are areas in which we can stretch ourselves to do what might feel overindulgent or not necessary or too time-consuming… yet would nourish us and refuel us.
Looking at where I fall short, I’m too often dismissing potential nourishing activities because I feel like they’re too time consuming… (especially since I’ve already spent that time exercising and napping!) I miss the opportunity to do something for myself in-the-moment throughout-the-day. I don’t take time to pause and breathe or get up and do a simple stretch or fit in a brief call to a friend. I don’t give myself little reprieves. I also do a terrible job getting to bed at a decent hour. (more on this later)
Where do you fall short with self care? In what ways could you stretch yourself?
It’s important, when looking at these areas where we fall short, to not beat ourselves up or start lecturing ourselves about what we “should” do. Because that would be the exact opposite of nourishing ourselves! Yet it’s easy to do. When I think about how I don’t go to bed early enough at night, I start to tell myself that I have got to go to bed each night by 10pm and ensure I get so many hours of sleep each night and I map out in my mind how I could do it “perfectly.” I find myself immediately “should”ing on myself and falling into a perfection trap.
When it comes to self care, don’t go for perfection.
Instead I know it serves me best when I think of the “baby step” self care commitment that I could take, that would feel great, and would set me up for success (not for beating myself up for falling short).
So, it’s 9:02pm on my computer as I write this and it’s time – just for tonight – to start heading for bed. That’s the “baby step” commitment I made to myself yesterday.
Amy L. Riley, Pregnancy Coach, believes the most important activity for you, as a pregnant woman, is to continually determine your unique way of being pregnant. As a coach, Amy supports you to unapologetically and audaciously choose what empowers you most and makes you feel good.
