Just a Little Reminder to Take Care of Your Self!
Question for you
What is something that nurtures your soul?
And…
When is the last time you did it?
Earlier this month, one of my clients asked if, instead of a blog post, I could help her write a holistic lifestyle guide to give as a gift to her email subscribers. Of course I was happy to do that!
From the materials this client sent me, I could tell she had already done her research and put a lot of thought into this subject. Norabloom is a newborn and maternity photographer who also runs a spa out of the same location as her studio, and has a selection of lovely, organic beauty products. So, naturally, her guide included some great skincare tips. But, as a holistic lifestyle guide, it also included overall health advice for both body and spirit.
I loved that she included a section about soul care, because that is so often overlooked in our society when we think about taking care of ourselves. More than just healthy eating, holistic wellness is about nurturing your whole self.
Self-Care as a Small Business Owner
It’s a concept I’ve been turning over in my mind over the last few days as I’ve been looking at rebranding my business. Something like that takes a lot of creative energy, and as excited as I am about these changes, I’ve found myself getting maybe a little too caught up in them. The main things I’m working on are:
- Developing a new workflow so my clients feel more guided and supported, particularly during the beginning of the process
- Planning and starting to create new blog and social media content for next year
- Redesigning my blogging packages to better serve the needs of my clients
And while these are wonderful things and I’m excited about them, I’ve also been starting to feel a little drained. Basically, I haven’t been taking care of myself the way I know I should—and the way I was just reminded to as I worked on my client’s project.
So, I decided to take Norabloom’s excellent advice and give myself a little soul care.
There are lots of things that nurture my soul. Here are just a few:
- Reading a great book
- Spending time with my pets
- Working on a new creative project
- Plants and the outdoors
- Cooking, baking, and trying new recipes
- Journaling
What I’m Doing to Nurture My Soul
Last week I took an hour to go to a houseplant sale in my neighborhood, chat it up with some super nice people, and bring home a couple of new plants to add more greenery to my space. (Which is hardly lacking, but like most houseplant enthusiasts, I believe you can never have too much green!) Just an hour, but it was so nice to do something different, connect with people, and prioritize one of my passions.
And this week, I knocked off work a little earlier than usual to make myself something extra nourishing and tasty for dinner. It may not have been soul food in the traditional sense, but taking that time to be present in the kitchen while I baked bread, quick-pickled some veggies, and sauteed mushrooms to that extra-browned state of perfection I like best (could eat pounds and pounds of mushrooms this way), was exactly what my soul needed at that moment.
What About You?
Sometimes, all you need to take better care of yourself is a reminder. So, I just wanted to thank my client for doing that for me, and I also wanted to pass it along. If you need a little nudge to nurture your soul, here it is. I’ll repeat:
What is something that nurtures your soul?
And…
When is the last time you did it?
(Seriously, I want to know. Share with me!)
