What does self care mean to you?

When I started as an entrepreneur many years ago I didn't have a clue what the words self care meant.  I was young and naive thinking that I was invincible and that I wouldn't end up like that person.  But after a few years in business working long hours, dealing with staff, raising two kids, and trying to be the best wife I could be (you know like keeping the house clean and all that) I burnt out.  What did burn out look like you ask? Well I got sick, really sick!  I was ignoring signs of it and carried on.  I ended up in bed for almost a month (thank goodness I had support from friends and family because I don't know if I would have survived).  That month in bed made me realize it was time to let go of the business I loved so much that it was not working and loosing me money.  1 month later I had closed my business and was completely heartbroken.  And 8 months later I ended up in surgery (yes I am completely healed and doing great, that was almost 10 years ago). 

That is when the light bulb turned on about self care. I needed to give myself some grace to heal, to take care of what I needed and to spend time with my husband and children, which I had neglected during that time. I learned that taking care of myself was so much more important than anything else.  It took me almost a year to forgive myself, thinking I had failed but I didn't, I had experiences that I learned from and it gave me the strength to carry on to my next adventure. It also gave me the knowledge that if I stepped away from my business for a few hours or a day or two it wouldn't fall apart and that business would carry on like it should.

So in the end, I learned that self care for entrepreneurs is especially important.  We often work alone or are isolated from others and so we need to give ourselves time to do what we need to do for our own self care.  Whatever that may look like for you, just go out and do it! Have fun! Be Safe! Enjoy life!