Do you think you are worth it?

I’ll bet that the last item on your daily to-do list is something for yourself. Go ahead and check the last few days. I’m sure I’m right because that’s how my list usually looks. The top items are important tasks that must be done. The next few include things I must do for others, like family or church responsiblities. Then come the everyday tasks that I won’t forget but still write down. like laundry. And then, at the very end, I see that I’ve written something for myself – like mani-pedi., organize fabric for quilting, or start reading the book that I bought 3 months ago.

Why do we do it? Sure life is busy and our lists of responsibilities continues to grow. But why are you last on the list? This is especially problematic because most days, if we are honest, we don’t finish the list! That means we never get to #15 Me Time.

So, what do you do? Rather than throwing your own personal temper tantrum or bingeing on M&Ms out of frustration, let’s try this. Put yourself at #1. It’s really okay and you don’t have to do it everyday.
Afterall, if you are not being cared for, you can’t do your best for the ones who depend on you. Here are three tips to help you practice some totally worthwhile self-care:
1. Plan some quiet time to start your day – even if that means getting up 15 minutes earlier. Spending a few minutes to relax, stretch and consider what you need for the day will reduce your stress level.

2. Put a small reward in the middle of your list for getting x number of items checked off. No need to wait til the end. Maybe a break to make some tea and put your feet up. Then get back to work…

3. Identify something you really want to do and plan reminders throughout your day. For example, perhaps you have planned to take a walk with a friend. Set the alarm on your phone or computer to keep you looking forward to the visit.

The key is to remember that you ARE worth the extra effort to take care of YOU!

Rewards and Partners

Today is March 1st. That means new opportunities start today. I love the beginning of each month. While I try to identify new goals and check progress on current ones, I’m always excited to see what will happen. What helps you stay motivated to work toward your goals? I wrote a little about rewards several weeks ago. I like to pick things as rewards that I would not normally do for myself- like buy fresh flowers or try a fancy new tea.

While I was not as successful as I had hoped with February (so many things out of my control got in the way – see last post), I learned to make adjustments. That meant I tried some different workouts when couldn’t run and got a new french grammer book to prepare for meetings with my student. Even though life seems to throw more than a few curveballs, we can’t just give up. Here’s a great quote : “It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you don’t stop” (by Confucius). That will be my motto for the rest of the year. Just …don’t…stop.

Another motivating point for me is having a partner to share frustrations and successes with. I have a friend at the gym with whom I confess good and bad days. I value her support because she is honest and bright. She takes her diet and exercise routine seriously
and stays up to date on new information. I recommend finding such a partner to help you in whatever you are planning, whether it is around exercise, career changes, or school. Be blessed!

Rewards

Last week I shared some of my goals for the new year. So far, so good. I’m doing more miles than planned, but could not get to my favorite strength training class (car troubles) more than once. I practiced my French twice but had to rush through, not fun. And, I am actually getting this post out before the end of the week. So, the next question is: How will you reward yourself?

As you can see, many things can get in the way of our plans. I suggest that you focus on rewarding your efforts, not just the comnpletion of a goal. For many of us, just seeing the results from having worked the steps can be enough reward. I still believe that having actual rewards makes the journey more interesting. So, how do you pick rewards?

First of all, I make a list of things that I enjoy that are not too expensive , must still be practical. If you feel guilty about the price of something, you are more likely to sabotage your own efforts so keep the price low. Some of my favorite items include: 1) fresh flowers from the grocery store; 2) new music on ipod for running; 3) a free hour roaming in the bookstore checking out new magazines; 4) a new item for workouts, like a top or socks.

It is most important that if your goal includes weight loss that you do NOT make food or treats your reward. Yes, we must use common sense and allow our rewards to keep us motivated, not cause a setback. So, are you planning to reward yourself with anything specific? Let me know.