Time for ME

“People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed.”  Audrey Hepburn

Advise on all medical issues. Check. Offer listening ear regarding crises of all kinds. Check. Balance finances and maintain overview. Check.  Proof read written material for all family members. Check. Establish and maintain communication with all family members. Check. Create and implement nutritious meal plan. Check. Offer mediation services as needed. Check. Be travel agent and/or trip planner for all family holidays. Check. Organize all family events. Check. (etc..etc..etc..etc)

Sound familiar?

Let’s face it, you’ve spent most of your life taking care of everyone else, it’s your turn. Every YUMMY I’ve spoken to, confirms the biggest secret to YUMMY AGING is taking the time to restore, renew and rejuvenate.  AND that it’s the small things we do for ourselves on a daily basis that are even more important than the big ones.

12 ways to restore, renew and rejuvenate  

1. Meditate – here’s one from Christine Northrup author of Women’s Bodies, Women’s Minds.  Sit comfortably. For 2 minutes take long slow breaths. Close eyes. Now, imagine breathing a smile into your heart with each breath. Take 5 more deep breaths. Continue breathing and visualize the heart opening. Open eyes when you feel centered and your heart open. This has an amazing softening effect.
2. Connect with the Earth– the Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine reports a study that demonstrates connecting the human body to the earth normalizes the daily cortisol rhythm, improves sleep and reduces the pain and inflammation within the body. Studies have shown that even 5 minutes of ‘outside’ time can lead to improvement in mood and self esteem.
3. Get Physical– go for a walk, cycle, or run – hit the gym, dance class or just turn up the music and move. Stress and tension will be released replaced by the feel good hormone Endorphins. Oh happy day!
4. “YOU are amazing” – you work so hard and you do so much for others do you ever stop and appreciate yourself for who you are, what you stand for and all that you do? Do you ever give yourself the love and appreciation you deserve? Tell yourself (right now) how good you are. Self: “You are wonderfully, awesomely amazing…what I love most about you is________.”
5. Practice radical gratitude – Stop whatever you are doing several times a day and say, “THANK YOU”. You will experience an internal smile and a softening of the heart.
6. Get enough sleep and take naps – 7 hours of sleep per night is the minimum we need to be our yummiest. Naps are a wonderful way to return to inner peace, balance and tranquility. It doesn’t have to be long, a 15 minute power nap is enough to reset.
7. Start the day with a cleansing alkalinizing cocktail… either a half a lemon squeezed into a glass of warm water or fresh green juice (i.e. kale, celery, cucumber, beet greens, ginger) mixed with a scoop or two of a fiber supplement (many of these are a combination of psyllium and ground flax).  If you don’t have a juicer use green powder found in all health food/grocery stores.
8. Soak in a warm soothing bath with 2 cups baking soda and 2 cups sea salt for 20 – 30 minutes. It makes an alkalinizing spa by drawing the acids out of the body thru the skin. Rinse off in shower. Pat dry and apply body lotion or oil for maximum yumminess.
9. Say No to anything that is not important— If you need help discerning what’s important try this, for the next week, ask yourself once every few hours, “On the day I die will I be glad I did the thing I’m doing now?” Yes or No?
10. Listen to your favorite music – calm music will calm you down, upbeat music will make you feel happy and boost your mood.
11. Find your tribe – spend time with people you resonate with they are the ones who will inspire you.
12. Put pen to paper and get centered – When we can state something in as few words as possible it means we have reached the core, we have mastered understanding. Then we can act and go forward with renewed purpose. Here are 4 great takes on this idea. List 3 words that describe your past, present and future. List 5 things you want to pursue. Write your 6 word memoir – what can you pack into 6 little words? All that you are….All that you hope to become. (this a profound exercise… write down ideas as they come.. stay with it… you’ll go deeper with each draft). Write a 20 word mission statement that states your purpose in 20 words or less.