Recognizing When You Need Time for Self-Care

Making Self-Care a Priority in the Fast Paced Modern World

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This week has been a whirlwind.

• 2-day baseball tournament

• Last day of school for 3 out of 4 of our kids

• Graduation ceremony for the second oldest

• An ongoing 9-5 career for both parents

• and the first activity-filled days of summer

It feels like we have yet to take a moment to breathe for ourselves.

But as almost any parent can attest, that’s how most of our days feel.

Any moment of quiet feels like a godsend. For just a minute, our minds can rest. And honestly, as a busy family of 5-6 (our oldest is off at college in her own apartment), I don’t know what’s harder: mental exhaustion or physical exhaustion.

My bet is that it’s mental exhaustion.

Having Support

At this very moment, my husband is downstairs feeding the youngest two lunch. The second oldest is at work. And I’m nursing a headache driven by tension in my upper neck. A cat loafs on my lap as another steals a hair tie from my nightstand knob.

The windows are open, letting in all the fresh air accompanied by a neighbor’s dog barking, birds gossiping amongst themselves, and the faint smell of a cookout.

And it’s peaceful. I almost feel like my brain is whirring down, healing itself from the constant barrage of being present.

It all reminds me of how important it is for this introvert to have a bit of silence every once in a while, to escape to a relatively quiet room and let the stress slowly release from my body, from my shoulders down into my fingertips.

Having a husband who takes on extra when I need it most has been amazing. In fact, having anyone in your corner who can give you a break from time-to-time is priceless.

Learning to Recognize When You Need Self-Care

I didn’t always know what my body and mind needed. I simply knew what I had to do to provide for my family. And it took some time for me to be able to communicate to my now-husband when I needed some time to recover. Luckily for me, he now can recognize the signs of my social exhaustion and lets his extroverted-ness take over when I need it most.

When we’re young, we feel like we can physically and mentally conquer the world. But in my first year of my 40’s, I am even more aware of what I need to be at my best. (Why does it take so long for us to figure out certain things?)

Prioritizing Self-Care for Overall Mental, Emotional, and Physical Health

Interestingly enough, healing your mind in the short term has a lot of long-term positive effects. When we give our minds time to recover, we prepare ourselves to better handle upcoming challenges, helping us focus and be motivated during the ups and down. We also reduce the risk of mental health issues (like depression and anxiety).

Here’s what I’m doing to continue ensuring that my mind can heal itself and improve my life overall.

1. Getting enough sleep

2. Saying yes to self-care and creating boundaries

3. Making time for self-care

4. Embracing healthy activities (no vices, no bad habits) for self-care time

5. Sit outside as often as time and life permits

6. No tv, no phone, no devices for as long as possible

7. Special moments with my husband

Life can be downright busy, and it feels like we are constantly on the move. But even 10-15 minutes here and there can make a world of difference in your daily mood, attitude, and ability to overcome challenges. Find moments to steal time for yourself as often as you can, and fill them with positive habits that bring you peace.

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I hear you. You're exhausted. Frustrated. Watching others overcoming every challenge despite your relentless effort.

The brutal truth? No amount of pushing will fix a broken engine.

Just as NASCAR champions would never enter the Daytona 500 with neglected equipment, you cannot achieve extraordinary results with compromised personal systems.

THE 4-STEP ADAPTIVE GROWTH SYSTEM

That transforms strugglers into victors

1. DIAGNOSE YOUR HIDDEN PERFORMANCE KILLERS

Precision-identify the exact friction points draining your potential—often hiding in plain sight. Until now, you've been fighting invisible enemies. We make them visible, measurable, and conquerable.

2. ELIMINATE DEEP-ROOTED SELF-SABOTAGE

Methodically remove the subconscious patterns that have been hijacking your progress for years. This isn't surface-level "motivation"—it's removing the hidden brakes you never knew were engaged.

3. REBUILD YOUR MENTAL ENGINE FOR MAXIMUM POWER

Install championship-caliber systems engineered specifically for your unique strengths and challenges. Like a master mechanic rebuilding an engine block by block, you'll reconstruct your approach for unprecedented power and efficiency.

4. ACTIVATE YOUR CHAMPIONSHIP PERFORMANCE

Experience the exhilaration of not just surviving but thriving. With your new systems fully operational, what once felt impossible becomes inevitable—with less strain, greater confidence, and sustainable energy.

THE CRITICAL DECISION MOMENT

Pushing harder in broken systems isn't perseverance—it's the definition of insanity.

The most successful people in every field understand a fundamental truth: Systems beat willpower every single time.

Give yourself permission to pause. To repair. To rebuild. Whether it takes 90 days or a full year, this recalibration will transform your ability to go from struggling to victorious.

THE DIFFERENCE IS WAITING

Between the life you've been grinding for... And the life you were designed to live.

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