Jess Weiner Blog

I believe it’s time we redefine what it means to be truly independent. Free of limiting thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors. To release the relationships both personal and professional that no longer serve us and to continue to foster a connected relationship with ourselves. To question our privilege, challenge the status quo, and cultivate curiosity. I believe it’s time to get comfortable being uncomfortable.

This is our Reclamation of Independence. What will you declare?

Click here to download #ReclamationOfIndependence graphics!

Being focused on a cause is great. Dedicating yourself to working tirelessly for change is both admirable… and tiring. You’re not a machine meant to zero in on a singular task forever, that’s why it’s great to let yourself daydream. Protect yourself from burning out by zoning out. Let your mind wander, and allow your thoughts to flow freely.  Not only will it calm you down, but also it’s often just what you need to kick-start new ideas.  

Let July be almost like a second “New Year.” Refocus your energy and check-in with yourself on the 6th month to stay on track. Let go of the negative and embrace the change while continuing to dream and focus. While change can be scary, it can also be beautiful and rewarding. Change can be one of the toughest parts of life, but #selfcare17 is letting it work for us.

There’s a reason why kindergartens are encouraged to nap. They’re growing bodies and developing minds need a mid-day boost. But just because you gave up finger painting and learned to read long ago, doesn’t mean you should quit on naps. Let’s face it being an adult is exhausting! We face so many challenges and are constantly developing new ways to cope. Do yourself a big delightful favor, and take a nap! I guarantee you’ll appreciate it more now than you ever did in kindergarten.

It’s easy to think of peace and quiet as a luxury. We reserve it for vacations or yoga sessions.  But an occasional break from the noise of our daily lives can be an integral part of self-care. This week, practice being quiet. Silence your cell phone, log out of social media, no music, no talking. Take a relaxing break, and indulge in the gift of peaceful solitude.

With the constant stream of tweets and think pieces, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the number of voices weighing in on the world we live in. It’s not just about being inundated with facts and figures; we’re consistently entertaining others’ opinions. It can be useful, but sometimes we must simply listen to ourselves. Take a moment to really hear what your inner voice is saying, and let that voice guide you on this self-care journey.

“Hakunah Matata” might mean no worries, but it’s certainly not a motto for everyone. The words we say and the messages we send ourselves are a huge part of self-care. It’s not enough to regurgitate old sayings and positive talk you’ve overheard. Instead figure out what works for you, find words that have meaning, and give yourself positive motivation. Develop a mantra of your own that can lift you up when you’re feeling low and send you even higher when you’re feeling good.

Wondering about the world is one way to make connections that a hyper-focused mind may not see. Mind wandering may not let you discover a new place the same way physical wandering does, but it is a lot cheaper and easier to do. In our rapidly-changing world, sometimes we need to escape the here and now to protect our creative thinking. We need the space to create our vision for the future, to dig deeper into lessons and wisdom learned from past mistakes, and to put ourselves in other people’s shoes to exercise empathy. Mind-wandering is what allows us to be creative and lights the spark of innovation. In the long-run, it’s wandering that exercises our creative muscles and gives us a safe space to use our imagination when approaching our plans and possibilities for the future.

When working toward a goal whether social justice or self-confidence it’s easy to be discouraged if you’re not exactly where you’d like to be. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the distance between you and your goal. That’s why celebrating progress can be an effective way to practice self-care. Take a look at where you are in the struggle at this moment and be grateful for how far you’ve come. Give yourself credit for taking on a challenge and not giving up! It’ll energize you to keep pushing forward and help face the fight ahead.