Self care...

I seem to have many friends and family struggling with finding a balance in their life.  I thought of the analogy of on an airplane you are instructed to put the mask on yourself first and then help those around you.  Often we come to this conclusion "exactly, you can't help those around you if you're passed out!" but I think there is more to it.  If you take care of yourself first you will be physically and mentally capable of doing a better job.  I can easily get caught up in taking care of others and my needs are slowly moved lower and lower on my list.  As time goes in it really drains me and I start making mistakes, becoming irritable and overwhelmed.  Think of it as not putting the mask on yourself first and you are still able to get the mask on your family member but because you're getting in less air it takes 5 min to get it on them rather than the 30 sec it could have taken if you had put the mask on yourself first.  You're still getting the job done but there's more chaos and it's not necessary.

"But I don't have time!" I hear this response often and my response is "REALLY?  You don't have time to give yourself a fraction of the care you are giving out to others?"  As a parent, there is no better way to teach a skill to our children than to show them by our actions.  If our children see us running ourselves into the ground, I worry that they will do the same.  It really doesn't take long either.  I'm not saying that I am selfish and put all my needs above everyone else!  But there is a line and some of my own self care must be above that line.

This can be a 5 min bubble bath, quick walk around the block, reading a good book, calling and talking to a friend, manicure, fun hobby you enjoy and so many other options.  Taking just 5 min a day to make sure you are in tune with your own needs and making sure you are being taken care of can greatly improve your capability of being a better YOU.  My family deserves the best care, therefore I deserve the best care.  It is the only way that I can give them what they deserve.

I hope this inspires you to daily "put the mask on yourself first".

I also had to share that we are upon flu and cold season.  I myself have already had two sick children and this can be an easy time for us to wear ourselves out and get sick.  I wanted to share what I've found that keeps me from getting sick and help my family get better faster too!  On Saturday Richlyn, my 4 year old, woke up vomiting.  Promise I won't get graphic.  He wasn't able to keep down water so we tried Herbal Aloe, which he couldn't keep down either.  I had him sip on Herbalife's Hydrate (electrolyte drink) and he was able to keep it down!!!  He then was able to eat toast and a quesadilla by dinner time!  After dinner he was begging to get off the couch and run around.  Then on Sunday Richlyn was totally fine but by the end of the day Matthew, my 6 year old, was feeling run down.  He didn't want his favorite dinner, pizza!  He laid down on the couch and had Hydrate.  After 10 min he was sitting up and more energetic.  He woke up Monday morning completely fine!  I decided to read the label to find out what's in this stuff!!!  It has 200% DV Vitamin C as well as electrolytes to hydrate. So over the weekend I took care of two sick children and did NOT get sick.  My secret was one Herbalife meal replacement shake a day, 1 Best Defense in the morning and 1 Hydrate.  The amount of nutrients and vitamins in it give your body the ability to work properly.

So stay hydrated and take care of yourself.