Spring into Self-Love!

A Plethora of Holidays

The month of April is filled with a plethora of holidays and observances – more than I could have imagined!  If you’re curious, check out this link.

My favorites include  April Fools’ Day, Nature Day, World Autism Awareness Day, National Self-Care Day, National Exercise Day, Earth Day, and Canine Fitness Month.  Although the sheer volume of observances seems just plain silly, these observances are fun and can bring awareness to important issues.

Self-Love and Self-Care

Recently, I was asked about self-love for an article about Self-Love Day which occurred in February and is not to be confused with International Self-Care Day which occurs in July nor National Self-Care Day in April. Fun observances aside, I take self-care very seriously – for myself and for my clients. 

Helpful Tips

To that end, below is a list of tips we can use to show self-love/self-care to ourselves.

• Learn to be aware of your personal needs and address them.  Often we neglect our own needs due to a busy lifestyle and concern for others rather than ourselves.  It is not selfish to take care of yourself.   Personally, I enjoy journaling and relaxing pedicures.

• Eat a healthy diet that allows for the occasional indulgence. Eating a diet comprised of mostly whole, plant-based foods can lead to better health outcomes, weight management, and disease prevention. 

• Get plenty of rest. Proper sleep hygiene will help you function better.   Adequate sleep helps to reduce problems with concentration, regulates mood, and increases energy.  Research even suggests that proper sleep helps to prevent disease.

• Engage in physical exercise. Physical activity produces “feel-good” chemicals in the brain.  Not only is exercise good for the body, it also helps the mind.  Exercise contributes to feelings of accomplishment, self-esteem, and resilience.  Physical activity helps with weight management, enhances sleep, and improves functional fitness.  Some of my favorite fitness gadgets can be found here.

• Monitor your self-talk. Learn to talk to yourself as kindly as you would a beloved friend or family member.  We are often our own worst enemies when it comes to self-talk.  Realize that we are all flawed humans, bound to make some mistakes as we navigate our way through life.   Learn from your mistakes and move on. 

• Set healthy boundaries. Learn to set boundaries around your time and what behaviors you will and will not accept.  Say ‘no’ to things you really don’t want to do, and do not allow others to treat you with disrespect.

Next Steps

Please take a moment to consider your self-care goals for April and beyond.  Write them down. (If you haven’t already done so, you may download the Formula For Excellence^® Habit Tracker to track your progress.)

If you are ready to see how coaching can help create the right personal excellence formula for you, please schedule an Initial Strategy Session here.  I have a limited number of slots open for new clients, so ACT NOW!

Let’s create the right formula for you!