My Top 4 Self Care Tips for Uncertain Times

Are you feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about the future right now? It's true we are in the middle of some major global shifts that are impacting the way we work, our personal lives, our health, and our society's structure. I am hopeful for positive change and I'm also aware that with change comes uncertainty and anxiety. It's easy to get caught up in the "what-if's" and go down the spiral staircase of fear and worst case scenarios. It's normal to feel scared, angry, or worried.I'll admit it's been easy for me to fall into feelings of overwhelm as a new mom during the pandemic. My "old life" feels like a distant dream. I've worried about my business, my family, and my future. I've been hard on myself for not tackling the work of being anti-racist sooner. Luckily, I was able to recognize my feelings of overwhlem and patterns of being hard on myself which gave me the opportunity to address it.Whenever I notice I'm overwhelmed it's a sure sign for me to pause, reflect, and ask myself what's really going on. The way back to my centered self is always prioritizing self-care and self-compassion.Because of the inner work I've done over the years to address the root causes of my feelings, it was easier (but still took effort) for me to shift my mindset and address the situation at hand vs. living in constant overwhelm in 2020.The work I do with my clients is often centered around managing thoughts and energy in order to shift behaviors. There is power in reflection, feeling our feelings, and taking intentional action. I want this for you!In Module 1 of The Activator I teach clients my process of how build trust within yourself again. We discover how to prioritize yourself, build a personal ritual, and commit to your own growth (internal and external) which sets clients up for success during and after the program.If you need to create some space to reflect on your year so far, here are my top 4 tips to help you take care of yourself and to give you permission to feel whatever it is you're feeling during these times. Self-care is not a luxury but a necessity and you are worthy of receiving what you need.1. Manage your time and energyTime is not a renewable resource so managing your time is crucial to creating your version of a successful life.How do you manage your time? By managing your energy. It starts with feeling connected to yourself, listening to what your thoughts and feelings are trying to tell you, and being the CEO of your life by making decisions from a place of power. Are you managing your energy or is time slipping away leaving you feeling helpless? To reclaim your energy right now, take a deep breath and notice. Take another deep breath and feel. Take another deep breath and let it go. Welcome back to the here and now - which is yours for the taking.2. Ask for helpAre you taking responsibility for everything, in all areas of your life? Look around you and determine who is available, willing and even offering help? Are you willing to accept it or do you have an attachment to "doing it all"? Are you using busyness and overwhelm to avoid receiving help, love, and support? In order to sustain superhero status you have to rest, recuperate, and delegate. You’ll be no good to your colleagues or family if you’re burned out. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.3. Say "no"Pull up your calendar right now and look at your upcoming week or next month. What’s on your calendar that you really don’t want to do? What have you said "yes" to that really feels like a big hell "no"? Audit your commitments. Let go of what isn’t serving you. Saying "no" will give you the freedom to show up authentically and powerfully in the areas that are most important to you. Stop saying "yes" to please others and instead choose to say "no" to support yourself. You can be kind, loving and considerate even when saying "no". At the end of the day what you say yes to, you accept. Caring for yourself means owning your worth and accepting only what is truly a yes for you.4. Celebrate!When’s the last time you gave yourself a big pat on the back? When’s the last time you’ve stopped and allowed yourself to be proud of your hard work and the life you’ve created? Pull out a pen and jot down 10 things you’re grateful for in your life today, just as it is. What’s currently working well? Celebrate who you are and where you’ve come from by being in the moment and honoring your beauty, hard work, triumphs, and relationships. Cheers to owning your worth!Ashley Paré