Kara Martin Snyder offers pragmatic health & lifestyle options for frazzled entrepreneurs with all heart and no bullsh*t. Take care of you as much as you take care of business.
Q:
Hi Kara. I really want to start making an effort to be a healthier and, as you would say, a less frazzled woman. If you look out there, there are all sorts of tips to just exercise for 30 minutes a day, just meditate for 30 minutes a day, just journal for 30 minutes a day, etc. Before long my day is filled with blocks of 30 minutes activities. Help! – Overwhelmed in Ohio
A:
Hiya, Overwhelmed in Ohio.
For starters, I’m guessing that none of those experts doling out advice have spent a single day inhabiting your body. Unless, they’re like one of those bright and shimmery aliens in the 1985 classic film, Cocoon, that had zip-up human suits. On the off-chance that’s the case, disregard everything I say and take the aliens’ advice.
Here on Planet Earth, you get to be the boss of you…your body, your health and your lifestyle. Let’s take all of that 30-minute advice “out there” and start right here. Because nobody knows you better than you. Self-care is incredibly important. However, if it’s causing you more stress because you’re over-scheduling yourself, you’re probably negating the benefit of your self-care practices anyways.
Let’s start with intentional movement. It’s becoming clearer and clearer that a sedentary life is contributing to some pretty gnarly health issues. The Center for Disease Control recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity weekly and muscle-strengthening activities that work all major muscle groups at least 2 days per week. With those guidelines in mind, apply some intuition. What does your body need each day? After a stressful day with a handful client, do you crave kickboxing or yoga to bring yourself into balance? Which activities best serve you at different times? Do you currently have that awareness?
After getting into a movement groove, what other self-care practices have you placed in your toolbox? Notice, I said “toolbox.” You aren’t going to take out five tools to simply hammer a nail, right? You’ll choose a hammer because that will get the job done with just the right amount of effort. Got something on your mind, maybe it’s time to journal. Want to get out of your head, maybe it’s yoga time. Instead of overworking yourself in the name of daily self-care routines, where can you choose the perfect tool for your needs on a particular day?
You’ve got intuition, Overwhelmed in Ohio. Use it wisely.
– Kara
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