Do you feel that? It’s the uneasy pressure of balancing your desire to be great with the forthcoming thought that adding anything else to your plate just might make you crumble.  You know? That wrinkle you feel creeping into your forehead as you think through how you can possibly juggle it all AND keep your sanity.

If so, welcome.

You are not alone.  Like you, I’m striving to be the best at the multitude of things I do each day.  But the truth is that even if we feel like there’s never enough hours in a day to balance it all, we can make it work, and I’ll show you how.

Is Sleep for the Rich or for the Sane?

We see moguls discussing their road to success. The heart of the story is the same.  They where determined to get the job done at all cost. They got minimum sleep and  sacrificed all leisure for the end result.

Then there’s you,  And in your mind, you get down on yourself for being tired or for secretly considering throwing in the towel all together. Maybe you’re a stay at home mom, a college student, or a big time professional whose just overwhelmed with life.  Either way most of us or constantly juggling ways to be good at what we do without getting burned out or going crazy in the process.

Contrary to popular belief, rest is a great way to help yourself be more productive (click here for more on productivity tips).  It also decreases the likelihood of burnout.

If you’re like me, you’ve seen the cute insta quotes encouraging us to “rest not quit”- and we should.  Rest is a more realistic approach than assuming that sleep deprivation or being constantly on the go will help us reach success quicker.

Beach, Please

I’ll use me as an example.

Apparently, I am in a season of adjustment. And let me just be honest. It’s beautiful in some ways, but for the most part, HELLA CHALLENGING.

I’m a newlywed in a new city, with limited friends, and a new business venture. Mix all those factors together and stress is bound to follow in one way or another. So when a friend mentioned the opportunity to sneak away for a quick beach trip, I jumped at the idea.

And let me tell you, spending three days with a bare face and limited responsibilities was just what I needed to recharge.

I didn’t stress about laying my edges, filling in my eyebrows, or working to achieve perfection in any other way.  For three days I focused on allowing myself to just be.

Girl, Stop!

With so much going on it’s easy to forget the importance of being still. Just as important as being a goal-getter is knowing when to rest and reset.  With all the pressure to be successful comes the idea that sleep is for the rich or that we can rest when we die.

Girl, Please!  Taking on that mentality sets you up for some major burn out and makes it impossible for you to give your very best.

I got some of my best ideas as I lay by the ocean listening to the waves sing their own song. In fact, I allowed myself to relax so much that I drifted into a deep sleep.  I woke up feel refreshed and renewed.

Take the Pressure Off

Normally, I put pressure on myself even during vacation. There is this notion that I’m not really getting my money’s worth if I don’t see all there is to see. I do so many tours and activities that I come back home more exhausted than I left.

This trip was different. I allowed myself to embrace the fluidity of being free-flowing. I slept in if I wanted, never once thinking that I was wasting the day by not rushing out to do a million things.

• I had good conversations and good drinks.  I wasted less time on taking a million selfies and more time on being present in the moment.
• I paid attention to the blessing I usually take for granted.
• I said thank you to God A LOT.
• I spent time caking on the phone with my husband like the old days before marriage.
• I allowed myself to write organically rather than under the pressure of a deadline.

Over that weekend, I let myself recover in ways that were necessary for me to keep going.

Back to Basics

I believe in the importance of self care. I urge others to indulge in self care all the time. But in the midst of transition, I’d forgotten the importance of practicing what I preach.

It took some time at the beach to remind me of the importance of self care, and  I’m vowing not to forget about it regardless of how successful I want to be, or how much responsibility comes with being a good wife.

Summer may be winding down but my commitment to self care is just gearing up.  A few things I plan to regularly incorporate include:

• affirmations
• calming music
• yoga
• meaningful conversations with friends and family
• meditation
• spa time
• rest days

The Ultimate Self Care Guide

Maybe you’re reading this post and can relate to what I’m saying but have no clue where to start. No worries, friend- that’s what I’m here for.

I want to help you mind your self-care.

Sometimes it can be hard to think through the best ways to implement a self care routine. But luckily, there are practical ways to make it happen even if you can’t sneak away to the beach.

Check out the value packed self-care guide below. It’s perfect for the multidimensional gal such as yourself.  In it, I offer everything you need to develop a weekly game plan for balancing goals with self care tips for your mental, physical, and spiritual being.

This comprehensive guide provides techniques and challenges for being poised under pressure. It’s exactly what you need to consciously develop a lifestyle of self care that makes you better at anything you put your hand to.

Whether you suffer from anxiety or simply suffer from lack of down time, this guide is absolutely for you.