How Are You Taking Care Of Yourself These Days?

What do Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka, and ice cream sandwiches all have in common? I’ll give you a hint: it has to do with mental health.
How Are You Taking Care Of Yourself These Days?
Photo by Gabriel Sanchez / Unsplash

Last week, Simone Biles withdrew from the Olympic competition to protect her mental and physical health. She follows the actions of Naomi Osaka, who withdrew from the French Open and Wimbledon to work on her mental health. These are elite athletes at the top of their game, taking themselves out of the competition to care for themselves.

We can all learn from these strong women.

Most of us won’t ever compete at Simone Biles or Naomi Osaka levels, but we all face pressure and stress in our lives. Every so often, that pressure is too much to handle, and we need to take a break. That’s okay!

A massage therapist once told me our lives are like a glass of water. Everything we do — our jobs, our families, our friends — take little sips from that glass. Practicing self-care is the only way to add water to our glass. Without taking time to care for ourselves, the glass eventually runs out of water. When that happens, things start to fall apart.

We’ve all been through a lot over the last 18-months. If you’re reading this, I’m sure you could use a moment of respite to add water to your glass. It’s okay to take time off. It’s okay to take a break to ensure we’re performing at our best.

Today is National Ice Cream Sandwich Day. There’s no better time to take a moment for yourself and enjoy a delicious treat. When you’re feeling good about your ice cream choice, take a moment to book yourself a massage, too. You’re worth it.

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