I know we have all heard quotes and sayings such as “You can’t serve from an empty cup” or “Put your own oxygen mask on first.” I believe we all know this to be true but how many of us actually live our lives this way? I spent many years hoping to find time to care for myself after I cared for everyone else..
I operated from a belief that after I had fulfilled all the tasks for everyone else that I was responsible for, I would then take time for myself. This “me time” rarely occurred because I was usually exhausted after I finished caring for others or I had too many things to do and no time left over for myself. This type of behavior leads to feelings of resentment, illness, unhealthy relationships, depression, weight gain, burnout, and just plain exhaustion.
After experiencing a major heart attack and recovering from bypass surgery, I realized just how important self-care was. Even though I knew caring for myself was a top priority at that point, I really didn’t know how I could make that a reality in my busy life nor did I know what self-care looked like for me.