This quote is one of my favorites. It is a favorite because it is at once encouraging and challenging. It encourages me that finding that “me” time is critical. It challenges me because I too often neglect my self care. When I do that, it almost always has disastrous consequences.

It’s been one, um, h-e-double hockey sticks of a month.

Since this is the first post in about a month, you’ve probably figured that out.  A month! I’ve probably lost the three readers I did have. In which case, no one is reading this anyway so I can be brutally honest.

Some seasons of life are harder than others. In this current season, I find it incredibly difficult to balance all that is required of me as a husband, father, professional, coach, friend, volunteer, provider, faith community member, son, uncle, brother, and any other number of titles you want to add to this list. I know you have a similar list. How in the world are we supposed to get it all done?

Between trying to stay on budget at home, raising teenagers, celebrating a sweet 16 (which was the best part of this last month, by far) and absolute insanity at work requiring long days on top of an already long commute there were times I wasn’t even sure what day it was. And without fail, the first thing to go is the routine. Not that I’m all that rigid when it comes to the routine anyway. Because I’m not. At all. Not my personality. But I DO have a routine that I try to more or less follow for one simple reason – it forces me to take care of me.

Rather than bore you with a long run-on listing out my routine, I will summarize it as follows. Early to bed and early to rise…I like to be in bed before 11pm and up before 6am. That early morning allows me time to ease into my day. I have time to sit and sip a cup of coffee, open my Bible and renew my mind and faith, read for inspiration, and write out what’s rolling around in my head. I feel ready to take on my day and whatever it brings. I am running on all cylinders by the time I hit the office. I’m a force to be reckoned with.

What’s happened over the last month to the whole morning routine?  Obliterated.

The only real time to feed my soul gets wiped out from sheer exhaustion. Sleeping in a little bit, rushing out the door about 30 minutes behind schedule, working a little bit later or dealing with some crisis at the office. Home late and dropping to the couch to vegetate for a few minutes. I’m toast. And I’m so much less myself that I’m virtually no good to anyone.

Maybe for you it’s working out or yoga or tai chai or some such. It could be as simple as a night out with the girls or guys or going to church. Maybe it’s date night (so I’ve heard). Whatever it is that restores your soul, if you’re so busy that it falls by the way side..well then, you’re too busy. Neglecting ourselves makes us less able to bring that best version of ourselves to bear on the world around us. We don’t think as clearly, we don’t relate as well, we don’t give as freely. And our absence is felt. Plus, no one really wants to be around you (or at least me) because we get grumpy. We are not ourselves.

Disastrous.

I’m better than that. So are you. The world needs what you have to bring to it. The world needs what I have to bring. So as soon as we feel it slipping away, we must course correct.

The moral of this cautionary tale is that we must not neglect to care for ourselves. At a soul level. Because in that simple act, we empower that which enables us to impact the world.

We must do whatever it takes.

Put an appointment on your calendar, a reminder in your phone, set out your running shoes the night before – whatever it takes. Block that time. Protect it as sacred. Because it is. It’s the well from which everything else flows.

So tomorrow morning, I’m back on the wagon…morning routine here I come. So I should probably go to bed now…

What about you? How do you self care? How’s it going? What’s your favorite way to feed your soul? Let’s talk about it in the comments!