I am somebody who knows a thing or two about self-care.
I start my day slowly, even if it means I have to wake up a few extra minutes.
I make some coffee. I journal, get my mindset right for the day and write out my daily intentions. I move my body, shower, and eat a healthy breakfast.
And yet, somehow when little Migo entered our lives, that whole self-care thing went out the window.
I wake up, brush his teeth, and take him outside for a potty break.
I play with him for a few minutes. Give him water. Feed him. Put him in his crate and then try to get to work. Key word, try. Having his little puppy eyes stare at me while writing has proven to be quite the challenge. Since I was not slowing down to tend to myself first, the moment I had any time to get to work, I found that I was skipping over my most important self-care things and trying to be “productive” instead. Items on my to-do list took priority, so things like journaling, showering (yep, I admit it!), exercising, etc. were not happening.
And then it hit me. I was not practicing what I know to be true: We must take care of ourselves first and foremost.
So after a few days of neglecting my own self-care for my little Migo, I decided I would have him wait in his crate a few extra minutes in the morning while I tended to me.
I can see how easy it is to want to skip over our most important things when we have something or someone else in our lives we love dearly and want to care for. My puppy is very much teaching me this right now. But I also know that I am a happier human being, a happier dog mom, a happier wife to my husband, and a happier coach to my clients, when I show up from a place of treating myself well.
Whether you are a mama, a caregiver, or a dog mom like me, I hope you remember to fill your cup first, to put on your own air mask, and tend to yourself like you would a child, or in my case, a sweet little pup.