Notes from Neen: Taking Care of YOU—(because January felt like a YEAR)!

Is it just me, or did January feel like the longest year ever?

If you have felt paralyzed by a feeling the world feels like it’s on fire—illness, conflicts, natural disasters, and uncertainty swirling around us—you are not alone. Now, more than ever before, it's more important to take care of YOU. Believe me, I get that it’s totally easier to type than execute!

As you lead your team, people in your home, and your community, they look to you for direction, clarity, inspiration, and motivation. But, what do you do if you don’t know the answers? Or if you are feeling overwhelmed too?

If this is you…I see you. I feel this too.

In every professional conversation of executive coaching, and in my personal life conversations with girlfriends over cocktails, the conversations are the same:

• “Neen I am so tired.”
• “I don’t know where to start.”
• “I am scared for myself/people I love/my job/my family.”
• “It’s only January!”

If you can relate to this please know you aren’t alone and I encourage you to take a breath. There is a lot going on right now. And something I remind myself (constantly) is that the work I choose to do in the world is to help people feel seen and heard. It’s about the human connection.

I want people to be able to create moments that matter and the best way I know how to do that is through attention.

Remember, attention is about connection, and that includes connecting with yourself.

If you missed some of your January goals, extend yourself some grace. Now is the perfect time to reset and focus on self-care practices that will sustain you as a leader.

And while you might think of self-care as bubble baths, long meditations, and massages (it does!!) there are other self-care systems we can put in place while living our regular (busy, full) lives. Many of us still need to deliver for clients, travel for work, deliver presentations and pitches to advance our business, finalize budgets, restructure organizations, all while dropping kids at practice, taking care of elderly parents, trying to catch up with friends, and plan our annual vacation! So what can we do?

Let’s look at enhancing what you are already doing (rather than adding more to your full plate)!

Master your morning

My morning routine recommendation? Start with Michael Bungay Stanier's brilliant "Do Something That Matters"18-week daily journal. It's a game-changer for setting intention for your day with a unique approach to journaling. Add meditation (I'm loving the Peloton app with Aditi), movement that brings you joy (even if it's just a solo dance party in your kitchen), and fuel your body with something nourishing.

Protect your brain

Protect your inputs—be selective about news sources and social media consumption. Your mental wellbeing matters! Consider re-evaluating your night routine that includes keeping devices out of your bedroom (yes, really!) and creating a sleep sanctuary.

Schedule your recovery time

Most importantly, schedule recovery time. Block time in your calendar for activities that fill your soul. As leaders, we can only show up fully for others when we first take care of ourselves. That might mean scheduling a girl’s trip device free, booking a vacation with loved ones, taking a series of Friday’s off for long weekends, or proactively scheduling time off after a major project deliverable.

When you are overwhelmed it can be powerful to treat yourself to some recovery time. For me that is device-free, sometimes includes water (pool or beach), often involves books (the traditional paper kind) and delish healthy food. For you it might be pjs, a movie and popcorn?

Remember, taking care of yourself isn't selfish—it's essential for showing up as your best self for others.

You deserve luxury moments of self-care every single day.

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