How To Live A Fulfilling Life: The Biggest Secret Starts with Self-Care
You are TIRED of feeling DRAINED…
Like you spend your most valuable energy pouring into others, right? Maybe you feel overwhelmed and overworked. 😵
Well hunny buns…
You gotta take care of yourself if you’re going to have a life worth living.
I KNOW ⎯ You’re busy and self-care seems kinda selfish. I’ll show you how to get intentional with your time so you can actually fit in little bits of care here and there.
Ain’t nobody got time to be on the express train to burnout city. 🌆💥🚂
Everything you need for a fulfilling life is already inside of you, no Target runs necessary! 🎯
Let’s take it back to how I know this is true.
In 2019, I was floundering in a cesspool of self-loathing, burnout, and perfectionism. I used alcohol to cover up basically every issue I had and soon found myself weighing nearly 300 pounds. No one truly knew how miserable I was, though because I was wearing a pretty good mask.
But, we all wear masks. Deep down, we are the only ones who truly know how we feel.
We may get vulnerable with our spouse, friend, or therapist, but we always keep that one thing to ourselves.
Then, I stumbled upon a group of new friends who were living their best holistic wellness lives. They radiated joy and health. And I wanted that. No, scratch that—I needed that. So, I made self-care and self-compassion my North Star. And you know what? That’s where my wellness journey truly began.
Find Your “Why That Makes You Cry”
Here’s the kicker: everything you need to live a fulfilling life is already in you. But you’ve got to dig deep, find that why that makes you cry. Maybe you want to roll around on the floor with your grandkids without needing a crane to get back up. Maybe you want to be the one who breaks the chain of breast cancer running through generations in your family. Whatever it is, find it. Hold onto it. Let it drive you.
For me, it was fear. Fear of being trapped in a body that limited me. Fear of not being able to do simple things, like sitting comfortably in a bowling chair or, you know, climbing a freaking mountain if someone asked. So I chose self-care as my non-negotiable, and life got better.
Self-Care Is More Than Spa Days, People!
Let’s clear up a common misconception: self-care isn’t just about face masks and bubble baths. Sure, those are nice, but self-care is a lot more personal. It’s essential. It’s how you feed yourself, how you talk to yourself, and how you spend your time. It’s about nourishing your soul in a way that feels right to you. Maybe it’s napping, journaling, or even just drinking enough damn water. Maybe it’s knitting or doing some weird internet hobby I’ve never heard of. Whatever it is, make it yours.
Authenticity Is the Foundation of Self-Care
Okay, let’s talk authenticity. What truly drives you? What’s the stuff that makes you leap out of bed in the morning? Spoiler: if your answer involves “because that’s what I’m supposed to do,” you’re doing it wrong. Start with that why that makes you cry and build from there. This isn’t about finding your passion; it’s about finding what’s going to keep you sane and happy on the daily.
If you’re hearing voices in your head saying “should,” “would,” or “have to,” ask yourself: are those even your thoughts, or are they just societal programming? If you’re dragging yourself to a group function because you feel you should be there, but you’d rather be meal prepping or just lying in a forest somewhere, choose you. Cultivate the art of saying “no” to anything that doesn’t serve your authentic self.
Simplify, Simplify, Simplify!
Let’s talk simplicity. I can already hear you whining: “But Alana, I’m too busy for self-care!” Bullshit. If you can doom-scroll through Instagram for an hour, you can take five minutes for yourself. Here’s the deal: simplicity is your new best friend. Ask yourself, “How can I make this more simple?” Cut the crap, cut the clutter. Streamline your life. Make things easier.
Is the commute to the gym eating your time? Walk during your lunch break instead. Is crafting the perfect email sucking the life out of you? Send a voice note. Perfection is a myth. Done is better than perfect. Stop trying to be a damn superhero, and just get shit done.
Be Intentional With Your Time
Newsflash: time is your most precious resource. Be highly intentional with it. You’ve got goals, dreams, and aspirations, right? So, why are you wasting time on things that don’t get you closer to them? Do a schedule audit. Write down every minute of every day for a week. Where’s your time going? Be brutally honest with yourself. Cut the fat. Streamline your calendar. Make time for what truly matters.
And for the love of all things holy, rest! Rest is productive. It rejuvenates your mind and body. So, yes, lying down and doing nothing is actually doing something—it’s called recharging. And you need it.
For my personal journey, I chose self-care and self-compassion as my guiding lights and there was one mantra that really paved the way for me.
I am kind to myself.
I started with this because all the self-help books I read said, “you need to love yourself more!” Well, I wasn’t there yet because I still felt so uncomfortable with myself. So, I thought I might as well try to “like” myself a little more and this mantra was born.
I am kind to myself.
Then, I needed to dig deep and find my why. The why that makes you cry, as I like to say.
Maybe it’s getting on the floor to roll around with your grandkids, for me, I wanted to be physically unlimited because at the time I was terrified to even sit in a lawn chair.
When you choose self-care as your non-negotiable. I truly believe you are going to feel amazing. Self-care is more than just spa days, it’s personal & essential. It’s about how we feed ourselves, talk to ourselves, and ultimately take care of ourselves.
Remember, self-care looks different for everyone.
Let’s wrap this up with a friendly slap in the face. You can’t turn back time, so stop wasting it. Everything you need for a fulfilling life is already inside of you. Start with your why that makes you cry. Live authentically—because, seriously, who else are you going to be? Simplify your life—strip away what doesn’t serve you. And be intentional with your time—because you only get so much of it.
So, go out there, and make it happen. Put self-care on your calendar. Start small. Five minutes of self-care every day for the next week. I bet you’ll feel the difference. Remember, you’re the captain of your own ship, so steer it where you damn well want to go. And if anyone tries to tell you otherwise? You know what to do—just go ahead and ignore them.
You’ve got this. Now go live your best, most badass life.
Start your self-care practice by checking out these 25+ self care tips you can do in under 5 minutes. Plus! Grab my free worksheet to complete a schedule audit so you can get some of your precious time back!
Again, if you want to live a life worth living, it starts with taking care of yourself.
