Happy February, the month for LOVE, right?! It's fun to celebrate those we love by gifting them flowers, chocolate, and enjoying a fancy meal, whether it's with a significant other, our kids, or our galentines. My husband, our girls, and I have always celebrated Valentine's Day at home with seafood/steak, wine, and chocolate covered strawberries. Simple, but special.
February is also a month I like to focus on SELF CARE! It is actually one of my least favorite months of the year, because it is often COLD, brown, and dreary. As someone who thrives in sunshine and warm weather, I tend to get depressed if I don't have something to focus on, which is why I often run a marathon in January or February. It forces me to get outside and run and train and show up even when I don't feel like it. In addition to training for a race, I also try to focus on other things that FILL MY CUP like my early morning routine, reading and listening to books and podcasts, getting my nutrition back on track after the holidays, organizing the house, and treating myself to some things that make me FEEL my best.
In 2019, I had this idea for a book, and sort of a brand, if you will, and decided to go for it. Fill up to spill out is what came to my head, because what I kept hearing from my patients who were in a similar season as me with work and kids and ALL the things, is that they did not feel like they had time for themselves. They came in depressed, anxious, tired, and gaining weight, and the conversation usually centered around not having time for exercise, hobbies, and things that they used to do. And I could remember a few years of my life when I felt the same as a new mom with 2 young kids and a new job and a house and so many responsibilities. I would get frustrated when my husband left to do things with his friends or when he didn't help me around the house. It wasn't until I started running again and having hobbies and passions of my own in 2013 that I felt happy again. I no longer cared if he went hunting for the weekend or met up with his friends, because I also had time for myself to do things that filled my cup. We often traded off when the girls were little, and of course as they've gotten older, they can stay home alone when I go for my long runs. What I realized is that we don't just find time in the day to do the things we love, but rather MAKE time to fill our own cups. And sometimes that means waking up at least an hour earlier. My alone time is often at 5am. I love quiet mornings to drink my coffee, read, journal, workout, and get myself ready for the day. I actually THRIVE in the early hours of the day. But it doesn't happen unless I make it happen.
I truly believe that we can't live well, love well, or serve well if we are not making time for ourselves and the things that fill our cups each day. Even if it is just 30 minutes of working out at home or 20 minutes of reading a good book at night, or taking time to meet up with friends for dinner once a month or getting Starbucks and walking around Target ALONE... we all need that time.
So this month, my virtual gym accountability group is focusing on Fill your Cup February where we will have daily assignments that focus on self-care that fills our cups. Things like Fitness, Nutrition, Mindset, Morning Routine, Daily habits, Treating ourselves, and Loving ourselves while working on ourselves. There will also be some participation prizes, because we all love PRIZES, right?
It's not too late to join us if this sounds like something you need right now! Reach out to me at filluptospillout@gmail.com OR at filluptospillout over on instagram if you want to get signed up. One of my greatest joys in life is helping someone FALL in LOVE with taking care of themselves and finding JOY and happiness again.
But change requires action. If you wait until you have time or what until you feel like it, you will never change. You have to decide to take action and MAKE the time. We make time for what is important. And taking care of YOU is IMPORTANT!!!
Until next time,
Allison
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