Too often I hear people say that they feel guilty or selfish for taking time for themselves. I've been there...

Most of us use cars, so think of what you expect of your car. Your car has to function properly for it to do what you need of it. That goes beyond giving it the right fuel. It also involves changing the oil, keeping tyres at the right pressure, changing tyres when needed, cleaning it, other general maintenance etc. Think of that maintenance as representative of your own self-care needs. You have to look after yourself beyond just eating, drinking and sleeping, in order to function properly, so that you have enough energy and focus to give to your responsibilities, work and dependents.

You may have heard the saying "You can't pour from an empty cup..." If you're getting to the point of complete overwhelm, where you feel utterly spent, then your cup has run dry and you have no more to give. We've all reached that point at times. Yet, most of us won't stop. Rather than acknowledge that we need to come back to ourselves to replenish our reserves, we'll push through and try to keep going. However, rather than being productive in our work and daily tasks, or having sufficient energy to support our loved ones, we'll slowly fall into exhaustion, burn-out and inner turmoil.

Please don't feel guilty for taking 5 to 30 minutes out of your 16-hour day, a few times a week, for your own "maintenance". 5 minutes is actually very little. But, I too have those days where I feel that I just don't have time for 5 minutes. We're so used to trying to be strong and pushing through, that it takes practice to come back to ourselves, to acknowledge that we need those few minutes for our own physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.

So next time you berate yourself about needing some time, or feel guilty for doing those few minutes of self-care, just remember that this time is going to feed you, refresh your body and mind, and replenish the cup that has run dry. Those few minutes of time can give you back hours of productivity, and the energy you need to support those who depend on you for care and attention.

To give yourself those 5 minutes now, try my short meditation below. I hope you find it helpful.

Much love,

Claire