What Changed When I Started Treating Self-Care Like a Real Job

Self-care is another full-time job.

If you focus on this one job—taking care of yourself—you'll have the strength and energy to do all your other full-time jobs.

Your body isn't separate from your business. It IS your business.

I'm Not Perfect, But Here's What I'm Doing

Since I started writing about self-care in September, I had to walk the talk.

I can't teach you to prioritize your body if I'm not prioritizing mine.

Here's what that actually looks like:

I exercise every single day. Weights and cardio. Pilates. Walking. Riding my horse.

Some days it's 20 minutes. Some days it's an hour. But it's every day.

I booked massages from my students—and I paid them full price for their work. A 90-minute deep tissue massage with gua sha face treatment that helped my beauty and released my mid-back tension. A 60-minute CranioSacral session that got me back in alignment and relieved my knee pain. My November session is already booked.

I put my finances on autopilot. Investments, savings, paying down debt. We have less than a thousand dollars left on our truck payments, and then we're debt-free again. We're going to keep making that truck payment into our truck savings account so we can pay cash for our next vehicle.

I have coaching five days a week to help me grow my businesses.

I'm prepping my garden so spring planting is easy. I'm planting my tower garden so i will have fresh winter greens.

Here's What Changed

I wake up before my alarm now. Before my dog even starts asking for her walk.

My first thought isn't dread or obligation. It's: How long of a walk can I get in before my Marion Jones cardio and weight class? (That's on Mondays and Thursdays.)

On the other days, I'm thinking: What pilates video am I going to do today?

If I'm tired, I pick a gentle pilates video. If I'm feeling strong, I pick intermediate.

I always modify to protect my knees, hands, arms, and shoulders—but I keep the exercises challenging enough to maintain my strength.

That's the shift.

I'm not dragging myself out of bed to do the thing I "should" do. I'm waking up excited about how I'm going to move my body.

What Stayed the Same

Some things haven't changed—and that's intentional.

I've taken Juice Plus regularly for the past 15 years to fill in the gaps of my vegetable, fruit, and berry intake.

We primarily cook at home and use what we grow. Whole foods. Organic.

These aren't new habits. But they're part of the foundation that makes everything else possible.

What We Covered So Far: Foundation

Over the past few weeks, I've been writing about self-care foundations for massage therapists—from body mechanics to strength training to self-myofascial release. If you missed any, check out my blog at goddessapproach.com

One Message, Six Ways to Say It

Your body is your business.

If you don't maintain it, your business ends.

Not in 20 years. Not when you retire.

It ends the day your body can't do the work anymore.

Upcoming Classes and Workshops

Check regularly for updates at goddessapproach.com

Your Challenge This Week

If your body could talk to you right now, what would it say?

Write it down. No editing, no judging. Just listen.

Then pick one small thing you can do this week to honor what it's asking for.

Maybe it's booking a massage. Maybe it's going to bed 30 minutes earlier. Maybe it's saying no to that extra client on Friday so you can rest.

Your body has been asking for something. It's time to listen.

What's Next

I'm writing about why I do what I do - my story - maybe it will resonate with you.

You are Magnificent!

Goddess Wendy Coon, LMT
Co-author, Your Body is Your Business and YOU are the CEO! (2010)

You Can't Force Relaxation. You Have to Let Relaxation Happen.

PS If you've been following along, thank you. If you're just joining, welcome.