The Life of a Busy Woman

Are you always on the go? Do you ever forget to eat due to how busy your day has been? You are not alone. There have been numerous occasions where I forget to eat or decide to put my sleep to the side to get more things done. I know, pretty crazy. Sometimes, 24 hours in a day still does not feel enough and we end up entering a speed-like mindset and behavior. I realized however, that taking care of myself should also be a part of my schedule or daily “To Do List.” For this reason, I wanted to share some feedback on ways I have incorporated self-care ideas into my schedule as a busy woman.

My mother has always been an active person that never rested until it was time for bed. She juggled work, school, chores, kids, and wife duties. When I look back, it seems like a lot, however, this is still the case for many women. I, on the other hand, am working to balance my school, work, internship, relationship, and church duties. No matter what you are juggling with, we can all relate in one thing: IT IS A HANDFUL. I pondered on the idea of taking breaks and navigating towards a different direction in terms of how I lead my day to day. I came to terms with the fact that this method was not working for me; I felt more overwhelmed to know that I decided to pause instead of using that time to be productive in something else. When I implemented the ideas below, though, I carried my life in a peaceful, day to day manner rather than rushing and becoming overwhelmed.  

3 Self-Care Tips as Busy Women:

• Laugh. When was the last time you heard a good joke that caused you to laugh or when was the last time you had a good laugh? Is it hard to recall? Laughing has been demonstrated to improve stress and anxiety through the increase of chemicals such as serotonin in our bodies. I encourage to take the time to laugh and enjoy the moment rather than being so fixated on getting things done. Laugh with those that make you happy and put on some funny videos on any platform and feel the relief in your body. 
• Positive Self-Talk. Being a busy person often challenges our perspective on ourselves as we lose focus of what we are capable of or can achieve. I encourage you to talk to yourself in a positive way to inspire some positive energy. Doing so facilitates us to embrace everyday stressors and challenges. We are often quick at complimenting others on their outfit, hairstyle, makeup, or energy. However, I encourage you to do the same for yourself. 
• Be grateful. Living a fast-paced life interferes with acknowledging the things and people we should be grateful for. When we are so occupied, we lose sight of the other things that matter and should give thanks to. One way to practice self-care is through gratefulness; be grateful for how far you have come, who rode the ride with you, and where you will be in the near future. Part of gratefulness is thinking of those things that make us happy and bring warmth to our lives whether it is in the form of a person, place, or thing. Unplug from the routine and show appreciation to those that matter in your life.

After all, self-care should not be something we must change our whole schedule or routine for, but finding those small areas in our life where we can incorporate it is useful. I encourage you to practice some of these habits and soon discover some of your own. May you feel at peace every day in the midst of chaos, and may you laugh when things seem dark. 

Written by : Rachel Garcia; Masters Level Intern at Olive Branch

If you need support, live in the Chicago area, and would like to speak to a professional counselor, please contact Olive Branch Counseling Associates, Inc. at 708-633-8000. We are located at 6819 West 167th Street in Tinley Park, Illinois 60477.

Reference:

https://www.womenshealthnetwork.com/other-womens-health/easy-self-care-tips-for-busy-women/