Arlington Chamber of Commerce issued the following announcement on Jan. 5
“I was really stressed out between work, and the kids, and the house. I really didn’t think I had time but I just told myself, Ok Ashley (pseudonym) you can take 60-seconds to do this. You said you would. You bought the thing. So I did.”
“And?” I eagerly asked my client.
“I can’t believe how much more energy I had just by giving my feet a quick scrub!”
Ashley went on to tell me how this one act, a 60-second after-work “self-investment” refilled her. She felt revitalized and valued, rather than depleted. That 60 seconds had an exponential ROI. She got everything done on her list, and went to bed feeling more confident and experiencing greater life satisfaction. This translated to a better night’s sleep, which translated to feeling more refreshed upon waking.
Ashley isn’t the first of my clients to report this. Being a “sassy scholar,” I had to look into this. In fact, qualitative and quantitative data supports what my clients and my team’s clients have shared. It supports what I personally have experienced, and what writers in the popular media, such as Forbes and Entrepreneur say about the importance of self-investment (or “self-care”), which includes grooming and self-pampering. If those voices weren’t enough, it supports Deion Sanders' words of wisdom, “If you look good, you feel good. If you feel good, you play good. If you play good, they pay good.”
What the Hall of Famer knows, many high achievers don’t. It’s not what most high achievers were taught, myself included. Some of us have to burnout before we realize that we were wrongly conditioned to believe that gain could only come through pain; we were to sacrifice ourselves for the billable hour. And even now as most high achievers are hearing more about the importance of self-care routines, it’s hard to know where to start, what counts, or what you really have time to do regularly. So, let’s answer that.
There are many ways to practice self-care, self-pampering/grooming, and getting in some self-time. In general, these practices should be easy to do, not add stress, and enhance your life in some way. You can use multiple strategies for different needs. One way Ashley and my clients found is through a simple skincare routine that they could do quickly, daily. It was easily accessible because it was in their own home. It boosted their confidence and played into the beauty and health presence that researchers have found correlates with improved work and life outcomes, to say nothing of the visible results.
There is a connection between “self-pampering,” “self-care,” or “self-time,” and its ability to buffer against depression, stress, anxiety, and burnout. This is true for women and men. Investing in yourself helps you feel and perform better in work and non-work aspects of life. Some research also shows an increase in income attached to those who invest in themselves through “pampering” or “grooming” activities.
If you’re like most high achievers, you’re experiencing stressors and maybe flirting with burnout. You’re feeling all the hopes and pressures of a new year and hoping that 2022 will bring something different. It’s January and you can’t escape talks of New Year’s resolutions. Perhaps less stress. Perhaps more income to account for rising prices. Perhaps a greater sense of life satisfaction. Perhaps more confidence so you can take on new roles. Perhaps a sense of more control over something. Perhaps all of the above.
And if you are like most high achievers, you still aren’t sure you have the bandwidth to start a new “self-care” thing because it seems too daunting when you’re already overwhelmed. You don’t associate a 60-second foot scrub or two-minute morning and evening skincare routine as something that could help you feel confident and energized, and as a result improve your performance or simply make you happier.
Here’s the thing. Self-pampering or grooming, or whatever you want to call it, does not have to be time consuming or complicated. It’s a quick way to start and end your day with a little “self-time.” It’s a way of reminding yourself that you are worth investing in. And yes, you if you need to further justify it. You will be able to better invest in those around you too. You will also serve as a role model to them that they too “have permission” to invest in themselves. And they in turn will model to their network, with further downstream effects.
Most high achievers don’t see the connection. But you aren’t like most people. If you’d like to chat more about how self-investment and self-pampering can help you beyond the visible results, feel free to connect with me here: https://yesyourachelboehmbooking.as.me/schedule.php
In the meantime, here is a 2022 Self-Care Recipe for you.
Original source can be found here.
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