My thermostat tells me that it is 53F degrees outside right now. Yay!! It is a welcome relief after wearing a winter coat and hat 2 days ago when waiting at the school bus stop with the kids in the morning. Spring has been taking it’s time to spring! After being surrounded by barren monotone trees for the last many months,  I look forward to the palette of colors that will be lining our roads and adorning our yards as the spring blossoms bloom around us over the next few weeks. 

I don’t know about you, but sunshine and beauty outside make me feel so energized and inspired.

I realize that not all of you live in spring hungry New England, or in the U.S for that matter and may be facing completely different weather conditions. But I am guessing that many of you find yourselves affected in some way, by the view outside your window when you open your curtains in the morning. At least temporarily.

And then we hit the ground running as we get ready for the day, whether it’s getting the kids to school, getting to work, taking care of errands, meetings, appointments…

Irrespective of how we feel, we do all those things that need to be done.

So I ask this question: Do we carry over this “do what I need to” idea when it comes to taking care of ourselves?

I don’t know about you, but when it comes to eating, exercising and resting it’s so easy to go by what I feel like doing/ having/ being.

Do you find yourself saying (and doing) some of these things?

“I feel like eating chocolate” (and then give ourselves permission to eat the whole box!!)

“I don’t feel like eating any veggies”

“It’s cold today, so I don’t feel like drinking much water”

“I’m not going to workout today- I don’t feel like it”

“It’s 11:00pm but I don’t feel tired so I’ll just stay up and keep browsing”

I admit, I sometimes do. It’s so easy to just go by what I feel.

As a result, though, I end up feeling guilty (about eating all that chocolate), feeling hungry because I didn’t get the filling fiber benefit of the veggies, feeling tired since I am not hydrated enough, feeling lethargic since working out energizes me, or exhausted because I slept so late, even though I still have to get up early to get the kiddos lunch etc for school.

I don’t say this to point fingers at you, or make you feel guilty… I do it.. a large majority of people do. But hopefully instead of feeling bad you feel empowered to tweak that, a little.

So what is the solution?

There are 2 things that are helpful.

1, If you are a parent, you can relate to this one… think about what you would tell your kid in this situation. “Get off the computer and go play outside… it doesn’t matter if you don’t feel like it” (real situation!!)

“If you’re not tired just go lie in bed with your eyes closed.. even if it means staying like that all night -awake” (again, real story- and, I admit- not so compassionate mum here!! )

2. How do you get all the other things done?

You plan for it. You schedule it in. You assume it has be to done.

I get to my appointments because they are on my calendar (or I would totally forget!!)

I go to work, because I have to be there… there really isn’t a choice in that, right?!!

And the list could go on.

Think about what you are doing to take care of yourself…

Are there things you could schedule in? Put on your calendar? Set alarms for (like I used to do, to get to the school bus stop on time- drop everything and get out there!!) Working out is a great one for that. Getting ready to go to bed is another.

How about things that you plan for ahead of time that you assume have to happen whether you feel like it or not? Planning balanced meals ahead for example, so at 5:00 dinner prep doesn’t start based on what I feel like having.

You give so much attention, time and diligence to do all those things that have to be done, for people around you, for work, for home.

Give yourself permission to do that for yourself.

You’re worth it.