As the timeless adage says, “You cannot pour from an empty cup.” Yet, in the face of real-world demands, taking time to care for yourself can feel like an extravagance.
Life is best handled when you’ve done the work—when you’ve taken care of yourself and can show up at your best. If your coffee spills on the way to work, or your child calls “Mom” for the 25th time in an hour, or your email inbox is overflowing, or you forget that it’s crazy sock day at school, you might feel in these moments that self-care seems the least feasible. Paradoxically, these are the day-to-day moments that illustrate how much it matters.
There are times when life calls you to be reliable and solid, and how you’ve prepared yourself for those moments will become immediately evident.
Taking good care of yourself can seem, on the surface, to be selfish and frivolous. The thought of taking a nap, indulging in a nourishing meal, or stepping outside for a solitary walk might spark feelings of guilt or shame. Spending time at rest, at play, in nature, or enjoying a good book can be misconstrued as indulgent when you carry a lot of responsibilities upon your shoulders.
But when you neglect your own care and fail to nurture your mind, body, and spirit, you erode your capacity to love others. You rob them of your potential best. When you only deplete yourself, you offer little to those who depend on you and far less to any long-term goals you may have.
To bring your best to every endeavor, give generously, and handle well all of the challenges and obstacles that are sure to come your way, you have to ensure your cup is full.
Embrace Solitude
Whether this means waking up before everyone else at home or sneaking away for a few minutes by yourself in the middle of the day, carve out time to be alone. Keep the screens at bay and use this time to quiet your mind, dream, reflect, journal, practice gratitude, and simply be.Nurture Your Spirit
Ground each day in a spiritual practice. It could be prayer, meditation, or religious study. The times we live in implore us to anchor ourselves spiritually.Strengthen Your Body
Nourish yourself with healthy, nutritious foods throughout the day and move your body to foster ever-improving fitness, so that you’ll have what it takes to make the most out of this life you’ve been given.Stimulate Your Mind
Take time each day to read, learn something new, follow your curiosity, or exercise your mind. There’s always more to learn and ways to grow.Allow Yourself Rest
You are not a robot. Incorporate periods of rest throughout the day and ensure a solid night’s sleep each night.Have Fun
Rekindle your sense of joy by engaging in things you love. Play a game, practice a hobby, or try something new. Have fun!Foster Connection
Nurture your relationships. Reach out to friends and family. Take good care of the relationships that are nearest to you on a daily basis. Leave everyone that you meet better than you found them. Let go of jealousy, resentment, and strain. See the good in others and spread love wherever you go.Simplify Life
Detox your life from clutter, junk food, too many digital inputs, negative influences, and anything else that’s not serving you. Stop overcommitting. Simplify as much as possible.Prioritize
Know what your highest priorities are. Make decisions—big and small—accordingly.By beginning simply and filling your cup little by little, you’ll find that, before long, it will brim over with more than enough to share. In a world that demands so much, the most generous gift you can offer is a version of yourself that’s whole, vibrant, and ready to pour.
