Have you ever gotten that tight feeling in your chest when you look at your to-do list or make up a crazy theory in your head that gets you worried and worked up for nothing? Do these feelings ever cripple you to the point where you can’t even fulfill your daily activities or leave the house? Do you feel the pressure to always be a superwoman or supermom for fear of being viewed as weak? The good news is that you don’t have to be a superwoman. Historically, the “super” narrative has been forced upon women since the very beginning. By the grace of God, Sarah had a baby at 90 years old and unknowingly gave birth to the concept of women being able to do everything (with the grace of God).
Nowadays, women are expected to have multiple degrees, work 60 hours a day, cook dinner every night, raise perfect children with an immaculate house and fit bodies. All of this without the help of a nanny or caregiver. If you find a woman like this, I will show you an alien because she doesn’t exist in this world. I have multiple degrees, I don’t let myself work over 37 (paid) hours a week, I “prepare” dinner for the family on the weekdays, my children are far from perfect, I am constantly sweeping up crumbs all over the house, and my body is beautiful work in progress.
To that point, it is okay not to be perfect because no one is perfect. Since we’re all booked, busy, and overwhelmed with the weight of the world, practicing the art of self-care is crucial. I am the first person to take a post-church nap at 10:30 am, wake up by 1:30 pm and get cracking on some laundry and double-check my son’s homework assignments. I also know how to spend time outside of the house so I can step away from my mom/wife life and see what else is going on in the world.
To keep self-care top of mind and to turn it into a more frequent habit instead of something that is done on Mother’s Day or your birthday, time management coach Adama Hamadi enforces three sustainers that women of influence do differently and six ways to invite more freedom and ease into your life. I came across Hamadi after listening to the I’m Not Your Superwoman: All About Self Care episode of the Gettin’ Grown Podcast. Hamadi’s methods are simple, but useful and beneficial when they are applied and enforced. Take a look at her tips below, and find out more on how to avoid burning out at her website here. In what ways do you practice self-care, and how often do you do it?
Three Things Women of Influence Do Differently
Check in with yourself before you check your email
Like yourself or like on yourself before you look for likes on social media
Create before you consume
Six Ways to Invite More Freedom and Ease Into Your Life
Free up your calendar – be clear on what is urgent and what is important
Identify invisible scripts – what is the story you’re telling yourself to keep yourself busy, bitter and burned out?
Express, don’t impress – set an intention for your life and give people permission not to get it and not to like it
Reject your rejectors – what qualities do you need to do the work you are meant to do and be discerning about who you allow to sit with you
Communicate with power – ask for what you want with confidence and say no to what you want immediately
Engage in extreme self-care – set up the systems and structures to do whatever you need to do to feel like you and not feel bad