Sunday, October 14, I woke up feeling like I’d been hit by a truck.

The FLU. It struck hard and fast and lasted a long, long time.

I was miserable.

However, my forced convalescence taught me that if you don’t take a break – think lazy tequila-soaked beach weeks, Netflix and pjs Saturdays, laptop-free long weekends – your body will force a rest on you.

I wrote about this to my business besties – a fabulous group of entrepreneurs from around the globe.

It struck a chord.

The women of the group – strong successful broads running businesses, families, and side hustles – began a discussion around why we HATE the term SELF CARE, a discussion prompted by my disdain for the word.

Here’s what some said …

Self care – sounds namby pamby – needs a strong name, because the way it sounds – makes it feel selfish and BS, and ooh, lets have a f*&ing bubble bath, when actually what you need is Vodka on the rocks and some girlfriends – that’s self care.

Maybe it’s because we don’t call it “Care” when we’re talking about other people. Somebody’s got “mom-care” this morning. I’m going to do some “spouse-care” tonight.

Why the term “self care” bothers us so much: because it becomes yet another task on the checklist that we get blamed for skipping when things go badly.

Taking care of ourselves is so very important and most of us are so very bad at it. We are amazing at caring for and loving others but when it comes to ourselves, it somehow feels selfish regardless of what we know logically. I haven’t found a name for it that sits well but I will tell you I put it on my schedule as a Date with Me.

As I thought about this more, I realized that I equated self-care to selfish to being a bad mother and an inconsiderate partner. Meanwhile, my lack of downtime was killing my creativity, my inspiration and would soon kill the very business I thought I was building while I slaved 7 days a week, 12+ hours a day.

Does this sound familiar?

If so I’d urge you to step over that troublesome term self care, but find ways spend time with yourself, for yourself before it’s too late.

For me, a first step was investing in a year-long mastermind course to keep the inspiration flowing through 2019. It’s a way to force myself to find time to slow down and create.

I’m also going to be putting some mental health days in my calendar for next year, and I’m cooking up some ideas that might help you JUMP OFF the treadmill with me before it’s too late.

So stay tuned.

In the meantime, JUST BREATHE.

I know the holidays are here, but that doesn’t have to mean we run ourselves ragged trying to create perfection.

What’s perfect anyway? Maybe it’s just pouring a drink, cuddling a kid, a pup or a partner, and watching the tree lights sparkle.

With gratitude,