“I’ll go to the doctor for a check-up later,” I kept telling myself. I had weird mouth sores and headaches. A few times I even felt like I’d black out, but I told myself it was just exhaustion. “I’ll get more sleep, drink more water, and I’ll feel better,” I said. Making my own doctor’s appointment always fell to the bottom of my list.
Sometimes women stay so busy taking care of everyone else that we forget about ourselves, don’t we? You take care of the kids, take care of your husband, try to call your parents, and even end up taking looking after the dog your kids swore up and down they’d take care of. And most of the time, we’re actually happy caring for others.
But sometimes not taking care of ourselves can have serious consequences.
I’m embarrassed that I let years go by without making that doctor’s appointment. When I finally went in for a check-up, I learned my iron levels had fallen so dangerously low that doctors insisted I go through a long battery of tests to rule out cancer. Two traumatic months and eight thousand dollars later, I learned nothing was seriously wrong. However, I needed to take iron tablets to restore my hemoglobin levels.
Over a year has passed. I’ve learned since that both my mom and daughter are also anemic. As a safeguard, I will probably take an iron tablet every day for the rest of my life. Because I really do want to take care of myself. Want to join me?
Maybe you’ve been running on the hamster wheel to take care of everybody else.
You spent the month of August getting kids ready for school or dropping someone off at college. Maybe you’re gearing up now for kids’ sports and fall activities, but you’re already exhausted.
Can we slow down to give ourselves the gift of self-care?
Let’s give ourselves permission to slow down and let God restore us. Let’s take time out of our busy lives to press a reset button. My word for September is “Restore.” I’m taking time for self-care, and I’m remembering these verses:
Maybe we need to give ourselves permission to take better care of our own bodies. We need to press pause once in a while. Even if it’s just a few minutes each day, let’s slow down to let God restore our souls.
Here are ideas I want to try:
- Drink more water.
- Choose an earlier bedtime and stick to it.
- Recalibrate my thoughts toward truth by spending a little extra time in God’s Word.
- Buy a new book for myself and actually take time to read it.
- Do Whole 7 again. (My wimp version of Whole 30 lasts one week.)
- Get on my yoga mat each day.
- Spend 5 minutes of my day in silence. I want to hear more of God’s whispers.
Friends, I recognize I can’t do all of these every day, but I can choose a few small changes each week. I’m looking for progress, not perfection. After all, I’m taking the whole month to focus on self-care, as a gift to myself. You can find me on Facebook and Instagram, where I’ll be posting about #SelfCareSeptember all month.
If you want to join me, will you tweet about it or leave a comment? I’ll know you’re coming alongside, and I want to pray for you.
Now it’s your turn: What’s one thing you can do to take better care of yourself today?
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Linking up with Kelly Balarie’s #RaRaLinkup, Jennifer Dukes Lee’s #TellHisStory, Holley Gerth’s Coffee for your Heart, Crystal Storms’ #HeartEncouragement, Salt and Light with Alisa Nicaud, and Arabah Joy’s Grace and Truth. Check out these communities for more encouragement.
Betsy,
I’m going tomorrow for my regular blood workup because, I too, am very anemic and I know the cost of lack of self care. Rest isn’t just a luxury…it’s a mandate by God. He dedicated a day to it, yet we women think we’re exempt. Taking time to do the things you mentioned makes us better able to focus and to ultimately serve others. An empty gas tank won’t get us very far. Thanks for the reminders!
Blessings,
Bev xx
You’re right about that empty gas tank, Bev! Glad you’re going to get the blood work!
Caring for ourselves is so important. It’s easy to neglect it and feel bad if we take the time to focus on ourselves but I’m learning that we can only love others well if we are looking after ourselves. first. Going to bed earlier is definitely the thing I most need to work on right now.
Yes, Lesley! A big “me too” to going to bed earlier. So hard with teen/young adult kids! (They don’t get up near as early as I do!) I’m praying for you. It’s so true we love others so much better when we take care of ourselves.
This is a timely reminder for me today… Thank you sweet friend for sharing both the spiritual and the practical! XOXO
May the Lord bless and surround you with lots of grace, Liz. Love to you!
This is such an important thing, Betsy! It reminds me of the saying “you can’t pour from an empty cup”, but it’s not always an easy task to put ourselves first!!
Thanks for this!
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
#raralinkup
So true that we can’t pour from an empty cup!
Yes. Yes. Yes.
I’m reading through your list of “tries” and echoing each one. My every day check list does not include enough of this graciousness.
Thanks for the call to sanity!
I’ll pray for you, Michele! We need to be gracious to ourselves, right? Treat ourselves as we would our friends, for heaven’s sake! 🙂
I will join you Betsy! Our Father has so much more for us to do!
I’ll put you on my prayer list, Eve! <3
Great suggestions, Betsy. As you well know, this has been a year of learning to take better care of myself, too. We’ll encourage one another, OK? Let’s take care of these temples of God. 💗
Yes, let’s encourage each other! And YOU, my friend, are looking FABULOUS! I’ve been noticing in your new photos. Beautiful!
I’ve been really working hard at caring for myself for the past two years. Then in August this year, I had a kidney infection and a kidney stone. It’s hard not to take care of yourself when you are put out of commission for a week or more! Spending more time with the Lord and praying His word back to him are my mainstays right now. I’m also trying to eat healthier and drink more water. Today the sun is out, so I’m planning on going for a walk! Caring for our own bodies is not a sin, it’s extremely vital to life and living!
Blessings and grace to you as you recover, Karen. I’m so sorry about your kidney infection. Praise God you are still here. Those can be SO serious. Praying for you now, friend. Healing, grace, joy, and strength.
The Holy Spirit deserves a lovingly cared-for home to reside in;). Your points were all on point! Remember, we must place the oxygen mask on ourselves before we can help anyone else! Breathing in His restorative grace today with renewed vigor and inspiration:)❤️
Melinda, I love that point about the Holy Spirit deserving a lovingly cared-for home to reside in. Do you mind if I share this quote on my FB page and Instagram sometime this month? Love it. I’m breathing in His restorative grace myself. Thanks for that.
Share away! I pray others will be encouraged!:)
I’ve let a few extra pounds creep on due to lack of exercise and eating right. Starting over this week with prayer walks in the beautiful temps, and eating more soups, salads, and smoothies. Sharing this on Facebook and Twitter!
I love that you’re starting over! Me too! I’ve let it all go the last two weeks and eaten LOTS of carbs, so this is now day 3 of my “Whole 7.” 🙂 After completing one, I decide whether to do it again or not!
I love each of these ideas and need a reboot myself! Love the 5 min of silence! I’m even doing a Memory Makeover for mind wellness over at MemoryMinders. All of these sound good, but I also schedule all those doctor and self-care maintence appts. now that the kids are back in school for my own wellness. It allows me those moments to focus on my physical wellness with a bit more time.
So important, Jill. I’m glad you’re doing that! I’m going to try the 5 min of silence TODAY! thanks for the reminder.
Dear Betsy, how wise you are to learn from your mistakes and move forward. Your list is inspiring! For me, actually unwrapping and sitting down to browse my home decorating magazine the same day I get it feels like a luxury. I also took up crocheting last winter when our newest granddaughter was on the way. The repetitive motion and weight of scarves or blankets being worked are very soothing to me. Prayers for rest and restoration.
Alice! I love that you enjoy that home decorating magazine and that you are making time for you. I’m praying for you too right now. Rest and restoration each day, according to your need.
I am learning to slow down and take care of myself too. I enjoy it when I let myself!
Right? I’m going to take a break to read a book now!
Dear Betsy ~ You KNOW already that I think this post is superb, timely, and much needed. Thank you for going there. We serve God not only with our spirits, but with our bodies and emotions. How important that we tend to every area of our lives.
He deserves the best of who we are.
Bless you, girl …
Love this prompt to care for ourselves. It’s sad we need the reminder, but we do. So thank you! Praying for you, Betsy, as you care for the one and only you! Sweet blessings!
Thanks so much, Crystal. I appreciate you! Blessings to you back. 🙂