Roxanne Jarrett

Someone paid me with sugarcane! Couldn’t think of a more appropriate tip on a night when I’m celebrating Jamaica and Bob Marley.🇯🇲

"Sorry, can't help you."
It was after 11:30 on Sunday morning. I went to bed late– slept late too. It felt good . . . to sleep. Still, I wanted to make this day a productive one. Listed my “things to do”– cooking, cleaning, prepping for the work week. Mapped out the day.

As I read my schedule over, I noticed that I placed my self-care as the second item. “Sorting clothes and loading the washing machine first is smart,” I said to myself. “The clothes can get started while I get ready for my shower.”
Then I realized I was flirting with danger. Eager to make the most of the day, I wanted to convince myself that pausing to be pampered was an inefficient use of time. I would get to it later, right?

Later.
Later means not now.
Later means now is not convenient. Or sensible. Or important.

I know how hard it can be– especially for women– to get and stay in the mindset that you matter more than the work you produce.
That’s why it’s helpful to make and enforce RULES that benefit YOU. Because YOU can’t produce anything if you’re not here. You can’t produce consistently if you’re not thriving.

Self-care MUST come first.

And if you’re seeking permission to break that rule right now– ask yourself if there’s a true emergency, or if you’re just looking for excuses to put your work before yourSELF.

My self-care godmother mind said, “Sorry, can’t help you.” “Take a shower, massage your skin with coconut oil, do a few stretches, put on fresh clothes. You are the gem-source of energy. Nurture yourself first so that all around you may thrive.”

It's a new year. How about a reboot? Click the link in the first comment for your free ticket to the Crush Your ADHD Summit!