Many women experience stress and overwhelm in our daily lives – the burn out that comes from too much responsibility and too little time. Especially when those things collide with not taking care of ourselves, which is all too easy to do when you’re feeling stressed and overloaded.

HOWEVER – especially when you’re experienced burnout and overload, you need to make intensive self-care a priority. Before you protest and start thinking of all the reasons you can’t – think about the ideas below for a moment:

You are the most important person in your life. Even if you dispute that and maybe put your children first – know that you’re better for them if you show up as the best you can be. You’re more fun, you’re a better role model and that’s just good for you and for them – and for your spouse or partner too.

Yes, we do get distracted with challenges that most often will overwhelm us.  The anxiety, worry and uncertainty to take risks bombard us every day particular if we are running a small business.   This noise of having to pay the bills when you are struggling with finances, you feel overwhelmed.  Where do you start?   It’s hard to do anything within this context.

When we are able to clear out the (noise) emotional charge which holds us down from achieving our financial goals, and when we clear out the noise that is going on in our lives – then and only then will our true self shine.   Our creativity will expand and the doors of possibilities open.   We can do this when we release all that other ’stuff’ that is holding us down from freedom and happiness.

We tend to get dragged down and overwhelmed by things that accumulate over time – and end up cluttering our minds.  Now is the time to identify what you’re tolerating.

You may not want to do anything about them now, but just writing them out here will raise you awareness and you’ll start handling, fixing and resolving them.

So make a list of what you’re putting up with at work – at home – to determine what might be cluttering your mind and slowing you down? Examples could be:  uncompleted tasks, frustrations, problems, other people’s or your own behaviors, clutter, should, unmet needs, crossed boundaries, out-dated wardrobe, unresolved issues or guilt, lack of exercise, being indecisive, eating habits, procrastination, lack of sleep etc.

Be Bold – Learn the tools to give you the permission to live your purpose.   You will take this to a new level that will support you richly as you make a greater contribution to the world WITHOUT feeling overwhelmed, frantic, stressed or exhausted.

Step boldly into action: 

Don’t get overwhelmed with the size of the gap between where you are and where you want to be. All that matters today is that you take the first step.   Then tomorrow you take the next.  Creating what you want is not always easy, but by staying in action, even when the going gets tough, you will proudly reach your destination.

Remember, self-care isn’t selfish; it’s an act of love and self-respect. To that end, it’s important to do something that’s good for you every day. Yes, EVERY single day. You need to feed your emotional, spiritual (however you define that) and physical self. You don’t need to do all of these things every day, but one or more of them, for some time EVERY single day.