This month, I want to tell you something you may not think you need to hear. Ready? Nourishing yourself is just as, and sometimes more, important than focusing all of your attention on everyone else. Believe me or not, it’s true. As business owners, managers and customer service associates, many of you spend the majority of your time taking care of others. You are the glue that keeps things together within your spa or salon. Kudos to you! Your kindness and dedication to your business are appreciated by customers and staff, alike. But the real question here is: are you caring for YOU?
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Oprah Winfrey, in an interview with researcher and author, Brené Brown (which can be found on her blog, Courage Works), explains why practicing self-care is crucial. “I used to fear hearing the term ‘who do you think you are?’ or ‘you must be pretty full of yourself.’ Now, I work at being full. I want to be so full that I am overflowing … what you see is a woman so full, that I’m overflowing with enough to share with someone else. I’m going to own the fullness without ego, without arrogance, but with an amazing sense of gratitude, that I’ve been born at a time when I am female on the planet, and I have the great pleasure and freedom to fill myself up.”
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Running or managing a business can be overwhelming at times. When you’re in the throes of an eventful period, the items on your to-do list related to self-care are often the first things to go. For instance, a jam-packed day of work and family life may lead you to skip lunch, cancel your dinner with a friend or miss your favorite exercise class. Skipping nourishing and healthy activities will not only make you feel even more stressed, but also factor into your overall wellness.
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You’re in the business of wellness and beauty, so make sure that yours is also a priority. You might not think that you have the time, or you might feel it’s not necessary; but I’m going to tell you a big truth here: it is. Too busy to eat, but feeling extremely frustrated with the amount of work on your plate? Stop what you’re doing and grab a bite. Running on fumes is not going to help you come up with your best and most creative ideas. Studies show that taking breaks and practicing regular self-care can help you perform better. When you listen to what your body needs, you will be more self-aware and able to handle challenging situations that are thrown at you.
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My advice? Nourish yourself this year! Now is the time to write down your health, wellness and beauty goals. Always thought a monthly massage would be divine? Schedule them. Have you been thinking about working with a personal trainer a couple of times a week? Sign up for it. Take time out for Y-O-U and don’t skip health and wellness activities because you feel that your business or family will not be able to function without you for a few hours. They can and they will – and in the end, it will make them stronger, too. ■
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Skipping nourishing and healthy activities will not only make you feel even more stressed, but also factor into your overall wellness.
