How to Take Care of You for Back-to-School, too!
Back-to-School brings “all the things!”
From new shoes to new backpacks and new teachers to new friends.
From new schedules to new routines and new classrooms to new teachers.
And, as much as this “newness” can bring about all kinds of emotions for our kids, it can do the same for us, too, as their Mom!
We started school a few weeks ago here in Naples, Florida. There were high emotions, nervous feelings of unknown, sadness over change, excitement for the possibilities, and mostly, we just had to start and get through it!
All of my focus was on the kids.
Do they have the right school supplies?
The right clothes, shoes, lunch box, food for lunch … even the right teacher?!
Ahh! As the mom, I was internalizing all of these thoughts for them. All of the emotions that come for my three kids in three new schools, encouraging my stepchildren who live with us the first half of the week, while trying to maintain my doTERRA business … you could use the word overwhelming here.
Turns out, all of my children were FINE!
But, me?!
I was not fine. At all.
With the fresh start feelings that only a new school year can bring, I knew that if I didn’t make some big moves when it comes to my own emotions while circulating around my children’s anticipation of the new year, this would be yet another year that I start-off the year behind … constantly playing a game of catch-up and feeling out of control with my own life.
Please, learn from me here and take a deep breath to take care of you!
For, me, self-care means going to my Google Calendar, first, and scheduling it all in. Not just to cross things off my to-do list, but to commit to it. Mean what I say and say what I mean. To make promises to myself and finish what I set out to do this year. Above all, to not be lying to myself when committing to my big goals. I can do it, but, before anything else, I have to take care of me, so I can take care of them.
HERE ARE THREE WAYS YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF WHILE HELPING YOUR FAMILY GET BACK INTO THE SWING OF THINGS WHEN IT COMES TO GOING BACK TO SCHOOL THIS FALL:
Schedule in a workout that fills you up.
This is usually a walk/run outside for me. The fresh air and endorphins from a workout with a podcast or music pumping in my ears is MEDICINE! This year, I’m stretching myself and also going to a Barre workout at a local Naples studio. Hey, if the kids have to put themselves out there with new schools, then I should, too!
Meal plan for the week.
If you know what you are having for lunch (at home or at work), and you have a general idea on what is for dinner (side note: AND you make your bed in the morning!), you will feel like you are WINNING at LIFE! If both meals of the day are mostly made up of real, whole foods, that you know the kids will like and actually eat, then you really will be the QUEEN of your castle! Just plan it and order the groceries if you feel extra pressed for time. The goal here … plan ahead!
Take a deep breath and focus on gratitude.
Put a few drops of your favorite blend of essential oils for emotional support in the diffuser. And, BREATHE! I’m sure your summer had its ups and downs. I’m sure you didn’t get as much quality family time as you wanted - you can never have enough! But, verbalize gratitude for it all and pray over your babies that no matter how old they are, they will have a good year. They are with the teachers that will grow their little minds, they will make and lose friends, they will have ups and downs and have gratitude that they are yours and you are theirs and you will get through it, all of it, together.
Wishing you the best this new school year has to offer!
MEET THE AUTHOR
Kari Turner Davis is a Holistic Life Coach and dōTERRA Essential Oils Educator. Recently named a dōTERRA Diamond leader, Kari is passionate about empowering women with the tools they need to reach financial freedom while educating moms to embrace the idea of a natural and non-toxic lifestyle. Kari and her husband, Bobby, live in Naples, Florida with their combined five children. They enjoy boating, spending time together as a family and creating an enjoyable lifestyle that revolves around filling up your tank to serve others in a higher capacity.