I’m aware that talking to heart-centered professionals about self-care may seem a bit like preaching to the choir, but I also know from personal experience that those gentle reminders to bring compassion and kindness to myself also help me better serve my clients.

Since our Productivity Tip today was about time management, let’s stay with that theme. One way you can take care of yourself is to establish time blocks in your workday where you solely focus on doing something that delights you. It can be anything from creative arts to music to taking a walk around the block. It may be your spiritual practice or talking to a beloved friend. Whatever it is, let it be something that relaxes you and brings you joy.

Now block out a time in your day when you will do it. It doesn’t have to take a lot of time. Maybe you do it first thing in the morning, before the craziness of the day’s schedule starts. Or maybe you add in 15-20 minutes midday to remember you are human (not a machine) and worthy of self-respect.

Perhaps you save your delight-directed time block for that part of the day when you walk away from your work completely, knowing it will be there tomorrow, and for the rest of the evening you rest in self-compassion, kindness, and do something that delights you…even if it’s a small thing.

And do this every day. While the way you delight yourself may change from day to day, make sure that each day you are including something that touches joy deep inside you. Your clients need you to be resourced and healthy, and including intentional delight in your day will help.

In a overly noisy world that invites you to say yes to everything, it’s okay to say NO, too. It’s okay because saying no to someone else is also saying yes to yourself. It’s okay if you withdraw, even from causes or activities or events you are passionate about. It’s okay to not give them an explanation. It’s okay to say you’re busy because you’ve time-boxed alone time for yourself so that part of your schedule is “busy.” It’s okay to not go to the party. It’s okay to not answer your cell phone. It’s okay to “sit this one out.”

I know you already know this—that making space for your personal silence is important. You’ve probably taught this, wrote about it, made social reels about it, etc. Sometimes we just need to hear what we already know again, from a friend.

I don’t know exactly what’s happening in your life, but if it’s anything like what is happening in the lives of nearly every human I know, right now I’m being your friend and reminding you that it’s okay to include silence as part of your self-care. The world will still be there when you’re ready to ease back in from a stronger, more connected space.

Delight Yourself

It’s okay to include silence in Self-Care