Tis’ the season for giving, but don’t forget about yourself

Are you already in that mindset of “giving” that we all seem to be dialed in to during this time of year? I know we often talk about giving throughout the year, and I’m sure there are quite a few of us out there that aren’t slacking in that department. We often talk about this on our show, and I don’t think that there’s any better person than Keith Carlson to speak about what it is that I’m going to mention here momentarily. Read on.

Whether we’re starting to really hunker down and get the things done for those we love most, or even thinking about giving in the way of money or time to those less fortunate individuals we’ve never even met, I still think it’s an appropriate time to remember our own self care and what we need to keep moving forward successfully. Now many of you out there may feel that this is certainly not the time to think about “me” as this time of year is definitely about giving to others, and to that I say, you’re partially right. Believe me, I give. I know you do too. However, as we come out of the turkey induced comas and right onto the coat tails of December’s hustle and bustle, we still need to consider that we can only do what we can do. And, we can only do “it” for as long as our bodies and minds allow us to do so.

Of course there’s also the “giving” that occurs at the office. I know there are extra shifts you might need to work to either cover time off for colleagues on vacation, or to get a little extra cash to purchase those holiday gifts. You may also be in a position (such as myself) where you are scrambling to get as much done as you can to meet those looming deadlines before the end of the year. This is where you are going to have to prioritize the particular “needs” and “have to’s” that make your career, personal lives, or businesses tick. If you aren’t one for to-do lists, now might be a good time to start picking up this helpful habit. Often times if we just visualize what we “need” to get done, we actually end up seeing what it is that really requires our attention and then taking the opportunity to re-prioritizing the things that can wait.

I’m no stranger to pulling all-nighters, adding more to my plate, and saying yes pretty much all of the time, but those moments are definitely not sustainable. Ever. I still have to remind myself that there’s only so much I can do, but I also get a lot of input from Keith who is really great at keeping his finger on the pulse of stress and helping others like me to make time for myself. I’m still a work in progress, but I suppose this is my way of giving back to you as I really felt the need to post a little reminder about thinking of your own needs, especially during this time of year. How about taking some of Jamie G. Dougherty’s advice from JamieLiving.com? It’s really simple, and I’m starting to embrace her practice of “R.P.M.” Listen in to find out more here.

I’m sure that no matter what we say here on the blog, on the air, or via the many social media platforms, many of us will still try to find a way to burn the candle at both ends. Maybe you should sketch this concept out on that new to-do list you’re starting and then see what that actually looks like. Spoiler Alert: It’s not good!

So before I wrap up this brief post and send you on your way to reflect on your own self care, one valuable lesson that I’ve learned both personally and professionally is that even though most of us will give a little extra during this time of year, it’s much easier to complete these tasks by pooling our resources together. It’s cliche? I know, but it works. This is just across the board, holidays or not. It’s okay to rely on those that may have more bandwidth or resources. Remember, give what you can and do what you can do. There’s no doubt that this is a busy time of year, but don’t over extend yourself physically, emotionally, and even financially. I wouldn’t worry, because I know your contribution will not go unnoticed. A small gesture of kindness does in fact go a long way. There’s always someone on the receiving end that will appreciate it.

You can be kind to others while still being kind to yourselves. It is possible.

Here’s to giving.