Nurture Yourself!
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| Sun, 03-12-2006 - 9:01am |
With Gretchen's post about 'what would you do?' and recnet talk about work, life and schedules taking over I found an article to help us to remember to take care of #1- YOURSELF!!!
NURTURE YOURSELF
by Bridget Kelly
If you're like most women nowadays, by the time you're done taking care of work responsibilities, family matters and social obligations, there's little time left for you. What's the big deal? Believe it or not, setting aside just a half hour to an hour each day for yourself could be just what the doctor ordered. In fact, many fitness experts agree that a little self-nurturing can go a long way toward helping you feel better physically and emotionally, no matter how exhausted you might be.
"Traditionally, women have been caretakers and nurturers," says Nancy Kennedy, a DietSmart fitness expert. "And, let's face it, we're always putting everything before ourselves-our kids, our jobs, our husbands. At the end of the day, there's nothing left for us-we're exhausted! But the bottom line is, if you don't take care of yourself, who will? I ask all of my female clients, "If you don't do it now, and take time out for yourself, who will take care of your kids if you're not healthy?" You've got to put yourself first sometimes."
Kennedy's not just talking about eating well and getting enough sleep. She also stresses treating yourself to something that makes you feel good or a little more relaxed every day.
Break free from food
Here's the catch: when women think about treating themselves, giving in to chocolate or some other indulgent treat is often the first thing that pops into mind. While our experts agree that food can be very nurturing, there are healthier, more invigorating alternatives than a pint of ice cream. If you're one of the sweet-toothed masses, don't despair.
According to celebrity trainer Michael George, pampering yourself with food may not be such a hard habit to break. "Any time you take something out of your life, you'll probably replace it with something else," he explains. "For example, people who quit smoking often begin drinking more coffee. So, if you've always relaxed with food, it's really just a matter of finding a better substitute. What matters is finding something that is important to you, makes you feel good, or helps you to know yourself better. If it were always chocolate cake that made you feel better, recognize that it's just a short-term fix and you may be seeking some comfort. Be realistic about how you can get that feeling from something that's better for you overall."
Not surprisingly, DietSmart's fitness experts' top choice for self-nurturing is exercise (they are fitness experts, after all). And they have compelling reasons to back up their pick. In addition to the obvious weight loss and fitness benefits, physical activity has been shown to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease and stress.
Take time out
While all of this advice sounds great in theory, you're probably thinking, "If I'm already stressed to the max, how can adding more activity to my daily routine help me feel relaxed?" It's easy to fall into the mindset that you don't have time for self-nurturing, but Kennedy says, if it's important enough, you'll make the time. "You can tell yourself, 'I'm going to get the kids and my husband up at 6:30 AM, feed them and get them dressed and off to school." Or you can say, 'You know what, I'm going to get up at 6 AM and give myself a half an hour to get my cardio workout in. I'm going to have more energy for my kids, I'm going to be in a better mood, I'm not going to be sluggish and I'll have my workout out of the way."
Kathy Kaehler, author of Real-life Fitness, agrees that adding physical activity to your day will probably make things less chaotic. "You'll be less stressed, more controlled, more energized-and you'll still be able to make all of your responsibilities work," she says. "A woman who takes care of herself is a lot more organized and a better time manager than a woman who doesn't."
Get the key to self-esteem
Taking time for you, also translates to better self-esteem, says George. "Having private time and taking care of yourself demonstrates that you really care about yourself." Kennedy agrees, stressing the particularly strong connection between self-esteem and exercise. "Working out is an excellent self-esteem builder because you're actually taking control of caring for your body," she says. "It really makes you feel good to do something positive for yourself."
Take-care-of-you tips
Convinced? Good. If you still need a little nudge in the right direction, here are some of our experts' favorite ideas for food-free, feel-good activities:
- Exercise, exercise, exercise
- Curl up with a good book
- Try aromatherapy
- Get a massage
- Meditate
- Visit a day spa
- Relax in a hot tub
- Treat yourself to a facial or manicure
- Shop 'til you drop
- Take a stroll on the beach


Hmmm a pint of ice cream - sounds good to me! LOL
IG, thanks for a great article.
{BUMP}
Okay ladies, have your nurtured yourself this week???