This post was written in partnership with ABLEnow®.
With all the changes going on, I’d love to say that I have been doing so much better in taking care of myself. That, dear readers, would be a lie. I have been expanding my business, helping family members, helping friends, running far more errands than I would like, and doing far fewer things that make me happy. I know better. Over time, that kind of grind wears me down to a nub, and before you know it I am burnt out, exhausted, and frustrated.
So, what have I been doing about it? I am taking more time to focus on my self-care routine and trying to regain a sense of normalcy. It’s time to get back to taking better care of me.
Taking a break
Ok, I’ll admit it just this once: I’m a workaholic. I am. If I’m sitting still, I’m working. So, I have been taking some time to focus on the things that really matter in order to get back to me. Part of that means taking a break during the day. If allowed, I will work unchecked from dawn until dusk. Setting timers, taking actual breaks where I eat actual meals, and having a quitting time have all been incorporated into my daily life now. Like all routine changes, this one was a hard one to adjust to. It takes discipline to learn how to walk away from your work when you’re out of balance with your work/home balance. It gets even more challenging when you work from home like I do (as I’m sure the past few months has taught some of you).
Spending time with family
Time with my family is one of the most important things in my life. It is so critical that we spend the time together and support each other. I recently was able to completely redecorate my home, and when I did, I was able to get new seating just in time for my mom to take some recovery time here with me. I’m so grateful that we were able to do it. Now that I have a comfortable space for us to be in, we are able to spend so much more time together and I am so very grateful for the chance to build new memories with my family.
Treating myself
Back at the beginning of the pandemic I promised myself that if I was going to stay inside that I wouldn’t begrudge myself minor indulgences. Do I want a special dinner? No problem. Would I like a nice comfy set of new pajamas? Go for it. A nice chocolate bar? It’s all good. Those small indulgences are what make life worth living. Something as simple as a favorite dessert or a snuggly robe can remind me exactly why I work so hard and they just feel good. Life is not all flowers but I surely can buy myself some and admire their beauty. Treat yourself with minor indulgences and enjoy them well.
Creating Security
When we think about creating security for ourselves we think about spending time on our personal grooming or binge watching a TV or resting so often, but what about your finances? Having financial peace of mind is a form of self-care. Taking the time to learn what you can about managing your money well is another way to give yourself some piece of mind. One of my favorite financial tools that I’ve learned about in my travels is the ABLEnow® account. It is an account that is available to eligible folks in all 50 states that allows you to pay for a variety of qualified disability related expenses. Being able to have access to these funds tax-free can bolster you financially and keep you independent, a goal that is a concern for many of us. ABLEnow is actually running webinars now where you can go to learn more, hear about what they have to offer, and most importantly, ask questions. Managing money is an area that can easily confuse people so it is important to be able to sit down and talk it out so you can be comfortable. To learn more about your eligibility for an ABLEnow account, head here to take their eligibility quiz.
Taking care of ourselves is more important now than ever. I hope that hearing my story helps you to put the focus back onto you for a little while.
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of ABLEnow.
Until next time,
René
