I have a had a pretty busy time this week. At one point, I was trying to juggle so much I was actually spinning on the spot trying to figure out which way to go next. Do you ever have those moments when you’re so task oriented you’ve completely forgotten to do anything for you? It’s at times like this that you may skip a meal, or drop your weekly class to get something else done for someone else.
After a while of doing this you might notice you haven’t seen any of your girlfriends for a while. Perhaps you haven’t done the shopping for a whole week, or you didn’t have time to clean up. Being busy makes us feel useful, needed and full of purpose. But being over-worked can be detrimental to your health and well-being. Eventually, you realize you haven’t just lost touch with your friends. You’ve lost touch with you.
I know I’m quite lucky to have friends and family to ground me and give me that time out we all need. But not everyone is that blessed. Some look to drink or drugs to get them through their tough times, especially when they’re in pain. It’s only when they’ve made it through rehab treatment that they’re fully aware of where it all started. Reconnecting with yourself and clawing back your life after going that far isn’t easy, but it is possible.
For me, I’m determined to stay in touch with me. I regularly check in with my feelings on the day. I think some people call it mindfulness. I’ll call it reconnecting. I know what stress can do, and I don’t want to go down that path personally. Instead, I’m going to make sure I have time to be me and time to do something for me every single day.
To reconnect with yourself, find that thing in life that you love. You might love watching the sunset, or hearing the waves crash on the beach. Perhaps getting some cuddles with your four-legged friends is what centers you. For me, I love a really bubbly bubble bath. And I have my favorite album on my iPhone. The scent of the bath oil and the sound of my fave band soothe me and bring me back to me. I’m taking care of my body and my soul, and it’s definitely time to indulge myself.
The image is provided by Flickr.com
Then I might get on the phone and talk about nothing with a friend. Company is good for us all. The most important thing is, I’m taking the time to be me with people who ground me and know me. I’m reconnecting with the person I was before I was busy with work. Sometimes finding yourself can be so hard, but it really is essential to do.
I think it is important to look after yourself every single day. Make the time to be you and think of you and do something that is only for you. It’s not selfish. It’s about checking in and reconnecting, just like you would for any friend you cared about. Take care of you.