Burn Out & Self Care

YOLO (In case you don’t know what that means) You Only Live Once. Then, it only makes sense to take care of your body, right? You only have one body. We’re not cats. We don’t have nine lives. During this corona season, my self care days were basically non-existent. I mean yes, I own a tweezer, I can manage Bella Reneé (my hair - she’s a whole person separate and apart from me, hence the name), I am capable of doing my own nails and pedicures, but massage 😥 the closest I got to one was rubbing CBD cream all over my body. My usual neurosurg unit being transitioned into a COVID unit, was treacherous. It definitely took a toll on my body. And while things were slowly getting back to normal, I could feel my body rapidly falling apart. My body was running on ‘E’. Best believe, this past week I invested in self care; yes sis, THE ENTIRE WEEK. Brows were butchered and edges were laid the week before, nails were properly manicured, feet got some love, my massage was HEAVENLY, amongst other things that allow me to be great!

Along with being intentionally busy, you have to operate in such a way that you allow yourself to take breaks. When you are burned out, you become crabby, mean, your work ethic decreases, your influence is non-existent and you have nothing to offer. Especially with the way the world is operating these days. First it was the pandemic, then the racial pandemic resurfaced, then ‘Rona 2.0 is trying to make a comeback ... you are on a burnout rollercoaster.

I ran into HomeGoods earlier today to get some candles. As I’m typing this I can smell the vanilla goodness of my candle. This is apart of my self care. It calms me.

Self care doesn’t just include physical well being. Mental health is super important. It took me a while to realize that mental health is a vital part of our basic health. So often, it goes ignored until someone has a breakdown. In October of last year, I remember feeling so out of wack that I was on my way to the nail salon, listening to Mary Mary - I Just Can’t Give Up Now, and literally as the light turned green, the tears started running down my face. I had to pull over and just thank God for what He’d done in my life. I think I had run myself so dry that I was just going with the motions. I mean, your girl was HIT! To’ up from the flo’ up. My hair is fully natural, and if she’s not braided or tamed at least once a week, I look like Simba. NO JOKE! My hair looked jacked, I was probably walking out the house in dad hats and Uggs, just a mess. That moment in the car allowed me to contact each of my girlfriends and my parents, and let them know that sometimes life will get hard, but there’s so much more in store. Don’t allow yourself to get to ‘E’ before you start paying attention. Count your blessings each and every day. Best believe I got my nails done, went home combed my hair; I looked like a whole different person when I was done.

One thing I’m practicing now is to pray on awakening. It changes my mindset and attitude. Chant quiet mantras to yourself. When I get to work before I see my patients, no matter who is around me I’ll utter “today is going to be a great day”. Even if its not, I remember that whatever is in my control, is just that. Whatever I can’t control, God will handle, or it’s simply out of my scope.

Feed your mind, body and soul nothing but positivity and nurture it.