Please take a moment to ask yourself this: “How heavy is a glass of water”? It’s kind of a trick question, because it actually doesn’t matter. What does matter is how long you hold the glass of water. The longer you hold it the heavier it becomes! We are not just talking about the “physical mass” of the object, but the “psychological burden” as well.
Whether you’re balancing work, a social life, family, or a combination of the three, it’s natural to feel “heavy” every once in a while. It can seem like an incredible feat to respond to text messages you may have received throughout the day, let alone thinking about taking some time to take care of “you.” But we also need to remember to set our glass down periodically!
If you find yourself giving from an empty cup, I’ve pulled together some simple ways to add a bit of “you” back into your day and help refresh your mind, body and soul.
First off, consider drinking a glass of lemon water in the morning and in the evening. Lemon water can rejuvenate you by: banishing food cravings, enhancing your immune system, assisting in digesting fats, reducing inflammation, preventing kidney stones, fighting allergies, rejuvenating your skin, and boosting energy and mood.
Second, consider spending more time outdoors. A few minutes outdoors can improve your mental health and brighten your mood and soul. While outdoors you can do some deep breathing: just inhale through your nose for a count of 5, hold your breath for another count of 5, and exhale slowly through your mouth for a count of 7. Deep breathing exercises can help reduce stress, quiet a racing mind, lower your heart rate, and calm your soul. Even a short 10-minute walk can regulate your nervous system, increase circulation, and loosen your joints. As they say, you either move it or lose it!
Third, you can consider reading a book or magazine. Did you know a recent University of Sussex research study in the UK discovered that after only 10 minutes of reading, participant stress levels decreased? Not only can reading help you relax and provide a moment of escape, but you also might learn something new!
To sum things up, whenever you feel the early signs of burn-out setting in, just ask yourself: “Am I giving from an empty cup”? I shared just a few simple options with you, and as you can see, it doesn’t have to take a lot to start to refill your cup. We just need to also remember to periodically set our cups down from time to time. Caring for yourself is actually a human need and an act of survival. It certainly mustn’t be confused with self-indulgence or entitlement!