Written by: Michelle Greene Rhodes, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
School is out, and summer is officially here. Many of us are looking forward to our annual family vacation and are excited to attend outdoor picnics, relax by the pool, and take advantage of the extra hours of daylight after work. I know for me, summer conjures images of lazy days full of relaxation and peace.
I do not think it’s a stretch to say that most of us have a certain nostalgia for summer vacation that can be traced back to our youth. Do you recall a time when you longed for the final dismissal bell that would mean no more school for two months so that we could spend all day with friends without lingering worries about getting homework done or waking up early? That is the summer mentality.
The only problem is we are no longer those kids. As professionals, we sometimes pack on more stress now than at any other time of year. We have got to make sure the kids are occupied and supervised while we work the same rigorous schedules. We need to plan extra meals and activities, and those family vacations – well, they don’t plan and execute themselves. When it comes to vacations, we are not only responsible for coordinating the trips. We prepare, pack, and budget for them. We have to make sure the finances are in order so that we can maintain the precarious balance of keeping everyone entertained without going broke.
As much as we would like to relax during the summer months, often “me time” is sometimes in really short supply.
That’s why, as I see it, summertime is high time to up your self-care game. The only way to be present for everyone else during these few months is to prioritize time for nurturing yourself. And trust me, you may feel guilty about indulging in some R&R, but it’s absolutely necessary.
Here are a few things that I have been practicing this summer, which have left me feeling rejuvenated and revived. Here are a few of my “best practices”:
Purchased and read a new book
Balanced the budget and implemented one new habit with money
Reconfigured my goals to match the time freedom that I desire
Journaled daily for 30 days and tied a physical wellness habit to it
Slept more than I can remember. Dared myself to nap during the day.
Who knew? Less is more! When you, too, are able to do this, you’ll find you have more energy and patience for taking care of others. Nurses especially need this time of the new normal to prepare for a mindset that allows for the recreation of self and rebalancing priorities so that we can slow down a bit.
What do you see in your new lens during this time of “re”?
What best practice list will you dare yourself to (re)create?
Michelle Greene Rhodes, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Michelle G. Rhodes is a Corporate Wellness Consultant and is Certified in Managed Care and Licensed as a Registered Nurse. By combining her love for Managed Care/Population Health background with her innate ability to create educational programs and cost savings solutions uniquely designed for each employer, Michelle is sought after for her multiple successes in cost-saving and exceeding targets. She has helped corporations craft wellness programs that offer definite returns on investments and meet and exceed their annual performance measures and goals. Michelle creates various wellness initiatives for awareness campaigns all the way to the creation of wellness culture transformations. Michelle Rhodes Media LLC is also a continuing education provider for Nurses by the California Board of Nurses and provides workshops for Nurses to learn continuously.
