5 Things to Start Doing for Yourself

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Tazo® Tea. All opinions are 100% mine.

In a recent newsletter I sent out, I simply asked everyone to email me back with their biggest frustrations. (If you’re not on my list, sign up here.) I wanted to know what you were struggling with. What was bothering you? What did you need help with? What could you not handle any longer? I was overwhelmed with your responses and incredibly grateful to you for taking the time to write me back.

Without a doubt, the theme of many responses was you are all overwhelmed and tired. You’re just really, really tired. Between a demanding career and family responsibilities, there’s not a lot of time left for you. I could tell you that obviously, you need a weekend at the spa with your girlfriends, right? Or maybe it’s time to hire out your housecleaning. Or how about using one of those food services where a complete meal shows up to your door. Or that fashion service that puts your outfits together for you. While those are great, not all are realistic for where you are at in life right now.

But these five things are realistic. I challenge you to choose just one of these things and do it. Do it for yourself and then let me know how it makes you feel.

5 Things to Start Doing for Yourself

Start being an authentic you

Do you pretend to like things you don’t actually like? Maybe you started doing it to impress someone and then when that someone was out of the picture, it just kind of became your new normal. 

Stop. Stop right now.

What does this have to do with a ‘cure’ for being overwhelmed? Being someone you’re not is absolutely exhausting. Being who you are truly meant to be is freeing, energizing and exciting. I could go on and on about this topic, and I’ll expand on it later. But for today I want you to take notice throughout the week of things you do that aren’t true to you. Notice them and decide what you’re going to do about it.

Start noticing joy in the little things

Too often we wait for the big things to happen and bring us joy and then when those big things don’t happen, we feel let down. What are some little things that bring you joy? 

From the decor in my home and a good book to the warmth of my drink on a cold day, it’s the little things that truly make me happy.

Those little things bring me joy. So I make sure to take a break in the middle of my work day to make a cup of tea or to read that next chapter out of my book. These little things not only give me the boost I need to complete my work day, but they help me to stay upbeat and positive, even when the day hasn’t gone my way.

What am I drinking? Tazo® Tea‘s Passion® – an exuberant herbal infusion of hibiscus, orange peel, rose hips & passion fruit flavors. Some other favorites include Awake™ English Breakfast and Zen™.

Now it’s your turn. Notice the things little things in life that bring you joy and make sure you surround yourself with them. Maybe it’s that cup of hot tea. Or maybe it’s a painting you love. Or maybe it’s a walk around the neighborhood with your dog. Whatever it is, take notice and make sure to incorporate it into your everyday life.

Start being a goal setter

What do you want out of life? Who do you want to be? What do you want to feel when you wake up in the morning and come home in the evenings?

My favorite journal says ‘Hug Harder. Laugh Louder. Smile Bigger. Love Longer.”

Many of you wrote to me saying you are struggling with meal planning and finding quick and easy things to feed your family. And it’s stressing you out big time. Believe me, I get it! It’s taken me a year to really figure out how to prepare meals for two vegetarians, three meat eaters and one with a gluten intolerance. It’s been a challenge. But I set a goal to get it figured out. I’ve taken an online plant-based cooking class. I’ve set a day of the week to meal plan. I’ve perused countless cookbooks.

You can not reach your goals overnight. It takes time. It takes work. It takes patience. But more than that, it requires you to take the first step. A goal is reached through a number of small steps. Decide what that first small step is, write it down and then do it.

Start being responsible for your own happiness

Don’t wait for others to make you happy. Choose happiness because you can. Smile a little more. Cuddle on the couch with someone. Pay for someone’s drink order behind you. Compliment people more. Say thank you. Drive calmly and let those in a hurry do their thing. Sip that drink and notice how it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Wave to your neighbors. Look for happiness any chance you can. I promise you’ll find happiness when you make an effort.

Start being more aware of your stress level

Do you tend to hold things in? Me too. If you’re like me you hold it all in until it can’t be held in any longer and then you melt down. You become short with people at your workplace, in public, and at home. You make irrational decisions because you can’t think clearly. You start to feel run down and sick.

When you start to notice you’re getting stressed, take a minute to slow down, breathe, make a cup of hot tea and step back. Give what’s stressing you out a name and then deal with it the best you can.

For example, do you have a million things on your to-do list and you can’t even imagine how to get it all done? It’s time to reaccess your list. Ask yourself what the most important thing is on the list and then do it, cross it off, get it done. Most likely there are several things you can cross off that list or delegate it to someone else. 

Which of these five things can you start doing for yourself?

When Tazo reached out asking me to share how I add a little excitement and joy to my day, I thought of all of you – my readers. Because I know some of you are struggling with feeling excited about life and seeing the joy in it. Just remember it all starts with you. Start doing some things for yoursellf – little or big – and see how it impacts your life.

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