You Stay Busy But Are You Really Taking Care Of Yourself?

What Is Your Answer?

Have you ever found yourself feeling tired and completely drained most days of the week, but you couldn’t quite put your finger on why? You go down the list—sleep, food, daily routine—trying to figure it out. Then it hits you and you realize maybe I’m not really taking care of myself the way I should be.

Maybe you’re technically sleeping at night, but you’re not getting those recommended 7 to 9 hours. Maybe you’re eating your three meals a day, but they’re not exactly nourishing because you’re hitting up your favorite fast food spots on most days since your schedule seems to stay packed and chaotic.

Maybe you come home to a cluttered space that doesn’t bring peace and relaxation or allow you to truly unwind. And maybe you’re so mentally and physically spent after work that you don’t even allow yourself to think about exercising because it’ll only stress you out when all you want to do is engage in a physical workout, but you just can’t bring yourself to muster up the energy to be motivated for it. These thoughts can very well feel overwhelming and mentally draining.   

Before long, if this cycle continues, it will eventually become a lifestyle–part of your daily routine—until one day, you realize just how disconnected you are from your own well-being.  I know this reality all too well, because I’ve lived it.

Back when I was teaching full-time, my days started in complete chaos. There was no evening routine to center me and properly prepare for the next day, so mornings were always rushed. Most nights, I was up late trying to make sure I had a solid plan for the next day and I also had to make time for my schoolwork because I was a student too. The next morning, I’d scramble to get myself and my kids out the door on time. Breakfast, if it happened, was cereal for the kids and a fast food drive-thru stop for me—something quick that usually left me feeling sick halfway through the morning.

At work, I’d think twice before drinking too much water or coffee because finding time for a bathroom break was a challenge. If I needed to step away, I had to hope another teacher could cover for me which meant that they would have to leave their own class unattended to look after mine. This meant that I wasn’t hydrating myself throughout the day like I should have been.

 I’d look forward to my planning period as a chance to catch up and avoid staying late, but more often than not, that time would get eaten up by a surprise parent conference, a team meeting, an IEP discussion, or some type of training, so I would usually have to stay late or take work home—and by the time I walked through my front door, I still wasn’t done.

But I had two children waiting on me. They hadn’t seen me all day, and now I had to split my attention between dinner, homework, housework, and more schoolwork—because I was also working on another degree. I barely had time to breathe. And as days turned into weeks, months, and eventually years– I knew something had to change, so I made a decision to choose me–to  prioritize my physical health and overall well-being. 

That meant for now, I would have to leave my teaching career that I worked so hard to get and that I once believed I was meant to do.  It was a difficult decision–and a scary one at that–but I knew that if I didn’t choose me, I would continue waking up every morning feeling unfulfilled and unhappy–and I didn’t want that for myself. 

As I write these words, I’m reminded that this is a big part of the reason why I started The Leisure Teacher Blog. Those experiences helped shape not only my journey, but also the topics I choose to explore here.

Let’s Focus on Our Physical Self-Care

Make Yourself a Priority

 This week’s theme is The Power of Physical Self-Care.  I chose this theme because I believe that so many of us move through our days prioritizing the daily demands of life and trying to stay afloat of our never ending to-do lists, that we tend to overlook our own physical health in the process.

Now more than ever, it’s important that we intentionally pause,  slow down just a bit, and take the time to check in with our physical health and well-being. 

All too often, we only slow down when we get sick or when something drastic happens.  When these things show up in our lives, could this be the universe telling us what we already knew to do but just didn’t do it?

 This week, let’s make it a point to set aside a little time each day to care for our physical well-being.

When we hear the word “physical self-care,” most of us probably think of exercise right away.  But it’s so much more than just moving our bodies.

Physical self-care includes nourishing ourselves with healthy food, staying hydrated throughout the day, getting quality sleep, maintaining a clean and organized space, and also keeping up with regular checkups and health screenings on a regular basis.

Physical self-care is such an important part of our lives because it’s the foundation for everything we do.  If you’ve ever said, “I just want to be able to think more clearly and stop being so scatterbrained,” the answer may not come just by being more productive, it might come by being more in tune with your physical self-care. 

For example, a clutter-free environment (which ties directly into environmental self-care-an extension of physical self-care), staying hydrated, and properly nourishing your body can all have a direct impact on your ability to focus and feel more mentally clear. 

Each day this week, commit to your physical self-care by listening to your body and giving it what it truly needs-whether that’s rest, hydration, nourishment through healthy food choices, movement, or simply sitting in stillness to gain mental clarity.  Start small, stay consistent, and allow your efforts to build momentum day-by-day.

Every self-care choice you make this week matters–and they all add up. If one day, all you have time for is a 10-minute walk, another day a 5-minute stretch to relieve body tension, and another day choosing to eat one healthy meal–these small choices count and before you know it,  your physical self-care won’t be just another task you check off your to-do list, it’ll be a natural part of your daily lifestyle.

Why Physical Self-Care Matters

Breaking Down the Key Aspects

Who doesn’t want to feel healthy in their body and proud of the choices they’re making to improve and maintain their physical well-being — choices that are truly on point and fit into their lifestyle?  I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who said, “All I want to do is be a bum, let myself go, and whatever happens, happens.”  But even though no one ever says this out loud, their busy schedules and the way they unintentionally neglect their health and well-being, often speak for them.  

As I’ve previously stated, physical self-care is more than just moving your body.  It includes several key areas that influence how you function throughout the day, how you show up for yourself, and how you make decisions that support your overall well-being.  These are the 5 physical self-care pillars I like to incorporate into my daily routine, although I do focus on other aspects when needed: 

Moving Your Body

Whether you’re taking a quick walk, stretching, jumping rope, or hitting the gym for a full-body workout, movement helps boost your mood, increase your energy, and supports your overall health. Daily movement matters. But if you’re like most of us and can’t make it to the gym every day, that’s okay–start where you’re comfortable. This could mean starting right in the comfort of your own home.

If you’re not quite ready to hit the gym yet, I’ve got a simple solution that will still provide a full-body workout for you. Watch my video to see how I use resistance bands to stay toned and in shape. Yes, in the video, Im at the gym, but the best thing about these resistance bands is I can use them anywhere. If I decide that I want to skip the gym and workout at home, I can do that.

To help you get started with moving your body more regularly, here’s a similar set of resistance bands I also use in my workouts. They come in a set of 3-easy, medium, and hard. They’re affordable and portable–perfect for full-body workouts at home or on the go. Click here to check them out on Amazon. Another resistance band set that comes highly recommended is the Elastic Stretch Bands. These bands are another alternative for staying toned and in shape. Click here to Explore on Amazon. Please note that this is an affiliate link, and I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through it at no extra cost to you.

Nutrition

When you begin to focus on your physical self-care, there will likely come a moment when you start thinking about eating better, especially if eating healthy isn’t already part of your daily routine. I talk about this more in-depth in my post Eating Well, Feeling Well: A Mindful Approach to Self-Care. In the post, I highlight not only the importance of healthy eating as a mindful lifestyle shift, but also how it plays a key role in supporting your overall well-being.

Improving your nutrition doesn’t have to be overwhelming or feel unattainable. Start small by committing to one healthy meal a day. Next week, try increasing it to two. By the following week, you may find yourself making the decision to stay consistent with your healthy habits by practicing mindful eating for most of your meals. Gradually working on this area of physical self-care not only gives you room to start small, but it also helps you build momentum-turning better nutrition into a daily habit that supports your overall well-being.

One simple way I chose to start working on this area of my physical self-care journey was by committing to a healthy breakfast every morning. Starting my day with a nourishing meal gave me a feeling of accomplishment–and that small win made me feel like I could keep going. Because I had started with one healthy meal a day, it became easier for me to build momentum by gradually increasing the number of healthy meals I had throughout the day.

One of my favorite go-to morning meals is a simple Avocado Toast. It’s quick, easy to make, and it keeps me feeling full most of the morning. In this one meal recipe, you’re getting your healthy fats and fiber which includes fruits and veggies. Here in this quick video, I’m showing you how I put my Avocado Toast together for a healthy start to my day.

Hydration

Hydration is a simple yet effective act of physical self-care. Drinking enough water each day is essential for your overall health and well-being. When you’re not properly hydrated, your body can’t function at it’s best–which could leave you feeling light-headed, mentally foggy, or even seeing stars when you move too quickly.

This week, challenge yourself to stay on top of your water intake. Start hydrating first thing in the morning–even before your morning coffee or hot tea. Keep a water bottle with you and aim to finish it by lunchtime. Refill it, and try to have the second bottle done by the end of your workday.  Refill once more and have the third finished before bed. Your skin, mind, and body will thank you for it.

If you need a little motivation in this area of your physical self-care journey, try my Infused Water recipe. These ingredients will help you stay hydrated longer while supplying you with important vitamins and minerals for overall wellness. The ingredients include:

✨ A slice of lemon and lime

✨ A sprig of Rosemary

✨ A few mint leaves

Add everything to your favorite water bottle, pour in your water, and enjoy!  Not only will this keep you feeling refreshed all day, but it also provides essential vitamins and minerals to support your overall health.  💕 ✨

So stay hydrated and drink to your health!  Here’s a quick video of how I put the ingredients together.

💧 Looking for a cute and functional water bottle to help you stay consistent?
You might like this one from Amazon— it’s sleek with time markers, easy to carry, and makes hitting your water goals a bit easier and a little more fun.

Good Quality Sleep & Rest

Another key part of physical self-care is making sure you’re getting good quality sleep and rest on most nights. It’s often said that getting 7-9 hours of sleep each night gives your body the time it needs to truly rest, recharge, and refuel.

Have you ever felt a cold coming on–it starts with the sniffles, then the sniffles turn into a headache, and then the headache turns into a few body aches? So you go to bed earlier than usual, hoping to sleep it off. You get up the next morning and you realize that feeling of sickness is gone, and now you know that all your body really needed was rest.

That’s why it’s so important to prioritize your sleep and your rest. We’re always trying to do and be everything for everybody that we take so little time to prioritize ourselves, especially when it comes to truly resting.

This week, try setting aside a couple of evenings where you completely unplug early enough to enjoy a relaxing night routine–one that calms your mind, settles your mood, and helps your body wind down from the day. If you’re not sure where to start in your evening wind-down, check out my blog post on Ending Your Day Right: Essential Steps For A Relaxing Evening. Even if this means that certain tasks go undone, it’s okay–they’ll still be there tomorrow.

Make yourself the priority and give your body what it truly needs: rest, relaxation, a real reset, and some good quality sleep. If you needed a sign, this is it.

Prioritizing Preventive Care

Don’t you just love the feeling you get when you know you’re taking good care of yourself? You’ve been on a roll for a few weeks–maybe, even a good month goes by and you’re finally feeling like you’re right where you want to be, health wise. Then all of a sudden–and sometimes without even realizing it–life gets in the way, and those healthy habits you were so consistent with slowly begin to fade.

When life starts to pull you off track, preventive self-care is what’s going to sustain and maintain you. That’s why preventive care is such an important part of physical self-care. It’s not just about going to the doctor when something’s wrong– it’s about taking intentional steps early on to help prevent a health setback before it happens.

Practicing preventive care means staying consistent with your yearly physicals, regular dental visits and eye appointments. It’s also making sure that you’re taking your daily vitamins, supplements, and prescribed medication on time.

So, when life starts to interrupt your commitment to yourself and your routine, having strong preventive care habits in place makes it a little easier to get back to the business of taking care of you.

This week, take a moment to ask yourself if there’s an appointment you’ve been putting off. If the answer is yes, make it a priority to get it scheduled and taken care of. Remember, on this physical self-care journey, prevention is key–and your health is everything.

Key Takeaway

Make yourself a priority by consistently showing up for your physical self-care. Focus on small, intentional habits in the areas of exercise, nutrition, hydration, quality sleep and rest, and preventive care—because your health is the foundation for everything you do.

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