We made it past February! I often think February is the hardest month to push through living in the Midwest. It’s cold, snowy, windy, we are trapped inside most of the time, and the hoopla of the holidays has subsided. March can definitely bring the same feelings, but there are always a few sunny days when the snow melts and we can tell that spring is just around the corner. It also seems to be the time of the year when people start to feel a little run-down, fatigued, spread thin, and ready for the longer days of summer.

With that being said, I want to ask you; what was the last thing you did for yourself? Something that was truly for yourself, not because you should or have to, but because you wanted to and it made you happy.

If something didn’t come to mind quickly, it may be time to find a little “me” time. Quite often I talk to athletes, adults and scholastics, who feel like they are hitting a plateau or constantly fatigued. Although diet and exercise are part of the conversation, I am more interested in what is going on in their lives outside of workouts and nutrition. Usually the root cause is being over-worked, over-scheduled, over-stressed, over-connected, and under-slept. Between work or school, practice, shuttling kids to and from activities, maintaining friendships, family commitments, etc…there can be a lot going on. Trying to “do it all” is a lot of pressure and the best way we can “do it all” is to take care of ourselves first.

Self-care has become an important piece of health that people are starting to pay more attention to. Why is that? I believe we have so much stress in our lives and are so connected through social media, that people are finally realizing that it is important to take a minute to disconnect, slow down, and re-focus our minds. There are many ways to practice self-care; meditation, exercise, yoga, relaxation exercises, going for a walk, coloring books, reading, getting into a hobby you enjoy, sitting quietly and enjoying your coffee, talking with a friend on the phone, going to bed early, journaling, prayer, laughing, and many more! Find what works for you and fill your cup up every day! By keeping your cup full, you will become a better you, therefore a better mom, dad, friend, sibling, and co-worker.

Coach Cota