Self-Care vs. Self-Sabotage

I reserved this past Saturday for a solo day of self-care.

Like many of you, I’ve been working long hours and going nonstop. The more my online business grows, the more technologically connected I am throughout the day. If I’m not with clients I’m checking email, updating Facebook, bookkeeping, creating new programs, chatting on Twitter or coaching my Pilates Body ladies. I train in-person clients for 6 hours per day but work 12 hour days when all is said and done.

I know I’m not alone in this. We are all busy. We all get swept up in To Do’s, commitments and responsibilities throughout the week. Most are necessary, but some we create for ourselves due to the cultural pressure to consistently produce, do, create, progress, etc. (but that’s another post altogether).

My solo day of self-care last weekend got me thinking…

When I’m exhausted or feel like I’ve been worked to the bone, it’s my tendency to reward myself with indulgence.

It took me a long time to recognize this and recognize it as ultimately an unfulfilling habit that I’ve unintentionally created. More often that not, when I want to do something special for myself it involves being lazy, eating rich food and drinking wine. It’s true. The reward for my long week usually contains one of the above. Perhaps you can relate.

I know that eating a meal full of cheese, wine and bread is enjoyable  and “rewarding” in the moment but I also know that it makes me feel like crap afterwards. Hardly rejuvenating. Hardly refreshing. In the end, a far cry from my goal of self-care. To be honest, it looks a bit more like self-sabotage.

This past weekend I decided to take the first step in changing this unhealthy habit.

On Saturday, I arranged my day as follows:

Solo Day Of Self-Care

8:00 – wake up, enjoy a relaxing morning with fresh brewed coffee and oatmeal for breakfast

10:00 – pedicure (which naturally comes with catching up on gossip magazines that I refuse to subscribe to but love to read)

11:00 – Pilates (yes, exercise on my day off. But taking a class instead of teaching a class = glorious)

12:00 – 15 minutes of silence and deep breathing in the eucalyptus steam room

12:15 – leisurely shower, shave, and primping session (key word: LEISURELY, no rushing on this day of self-care)

1:00 – enjoyed a delicious, healthy green smoothie (juice bar instead of homemade = a treat)

{freshly painted toes waiting in line at the juice bar}

It was a lovely day and I can’t wait to do it again. Taking time to slow down and care for myself and my body completely changed my demeanor, mood and outlook on life. On Friday I was anxious, busy, rushed and low on energy. By the end of Saturday I felt calm, healthy, strong and confident.

{cucumber, spinach, celery, spirulina, protein powder & flax seeds}

Lesson learned: treating myself does not have to mean indulging and undoing all my healthy work from the week. Exercising, relaxing and eating healthy can actually feel like a treat and it ultimately serves the purpose in a much more significant way.

A ‘treat’ doesn’t have to be unhealthy and relaxing doesn’t have to mean lazy. <— click to tweet.

I share this not to brag about my great day but to inspire you to do something similar for yourself. Some of you may be thinking, “of course you’re going to feel better after a green smoothie vs. a bottle of wine (plate of nachos, pint of ice cream, insert indulgence of choice).” I realize that. But some of you may be saying, “it’s good to know I’m not the only one.”

It’s a change in perspective and a change in habit to actually put this into practice. I may be a fitness professional but I’m human just like you. I’m working to improve my health and habits on a daily basis too.

Remember, we’re in this together.

xo,

PS – you may also enjoy On Kindness, Punishment and Paper Bags and 10 Self-Care Tips For New Moms.