The world has been turned upside with the outbreak of Covid-19. Families are quarantined, moms are even more stressed and spread thin, and practicing self-care becomes increasingly difficult. I’m having ongoing conversations with clients about how we can focus on our physical and mental well-being during this time, and while I know there is a feeling of being out of control for most people, one thing I’m emphasizing you have the opportunity to choose yourself. Because those who prioritize their health aren’t lucky, they’re intentional. 

This is picture is of our home gym, and I can’t tell you the number of times people tell me how “lucky” we are to have it. And don’t get me wrong, I do feel very fortunate to have this accessible to me, especially during times like this. But let’s be honest, luck didn’t have anything to do with it. Money doesn’t grow on trees around here (but if you got one of those money trees, I’m taking donations) and the gym set up didn’t just fall out of the sky. We earned it. It came as a result of choices.
 
This little gym of ours is skipped lattes, less Target runs, and date nights in. It’s little purchases over time that added up to a whole set up. The extra space we have to house it meant choosing one home over others, even if those other homes offered features we loved. The time in our schedule to be out here meant choosing to prioritize it. The decision to choose yourself isn’t selfish, it’s necessary. 
 
One of the many reasons I’m able to remain calm and present during this time is because of the little habits I’ve done consistently that help me prioritize my physical and mental health. I’m comfortable in my home. I know how to be present in the moment. I have access to self-care strategies. I know how to manage my stress, fuel my body and take care of my mind. The habits that served me before serve me even more now.
 
This post isn’t about having a home gym. The reality is, before we had the gym we had a yoga mat, a TRX system, and a pull-up bar that you hang on the back of the door. And before that? Well, we had running shoes and a favorite trail. This post isn’t about fancy equipment, it’s about being intentional with choices that prioritize your wellness. This post is an invitation to choose yourself. Because those choices turn into habits over time, and those habits help you feel sane when it feels like the world is falling apart. 
 
Times like this offer real perspective. They allow us to ask the questions: 
What am I doing to take care of myself? 
What do I deserve? 
What really matters? 
What do I want to model my kids?
 How do I take a break before I breakdown?
 
And never has there been a better reminder that you DO deserve to take care of yourself. That you do need to take a break before you break down. That your mental and physical well being really do matter. 
 
The world we live in now is proof that life can be unpredictable, and there’s very little we have control over besides our own choices and our own attitudes. Our health matters. Our happiness matters. Quality time with our loved ones matters. More than house projects. More than the dishwasher or the pantry organization. More that some color coded schedule. We matter, and it’s time we start investing in ourselves- with our time, our money and our energy. 
 
So today, just try to move. Breathe. Take a break. Find a happy little space for you like my gym is for me. Choose yourself. And reach out if you need some help.
 
What are you doing to take care of yourself today?