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Self-Care Sunday: Make Your Breakfast First

 Hello and Welcome Back to The Therapist Diaries, 

There is nothing I love more than lazy Sundays, and this Sunday might have been the best one ever! But in our house, in order to enjoy a lazy Sunday, you first have to get through two small voices asking, "Can we have pancakes for breakfast?" It's like they hear you open your eyes and come running in to ask before you actually roll out of bed and declare the day started for the day. My boyfriend's children are both under 10 years old, and so pancakes are a very important part of our Sunday morning routine... no matter how tired I might be at 8 o'clock in the morning.

As I fumbled out of bed, still rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I couldn't help but reflect on the bigger lesson tucked inside that pancake request. I was, of course, happy to make them the breakfast they loved, but I had to remind myself that in order to take care of others, I first needed to take care of myself. It’s a simple, almost laughable truth, but in a world that constantly demands more from us, it’s easy to forget that we can’t pour from an empty cup.

Taking a few moments to center yourself before diving into the responsibilities of the day is critical for your mental health. It's not selfish, it's necessary. When you're in a place of inner peace, patience, and self-contentment, you're far better equipped to serve others, whether it's your children, your partner, or even your colleagues. But if you wake up already drained, resentful, or stressed, you might find yourself reacting rather than responding. And when you’re running on empty, you're not just doing a disservice to yourself; you’re unintentionally doing a disservice to the people around you too.

So how do you ensure you’re in a good place before jumping into the hustle of your day? It doesn't always have to be a grand gesture. Sometimes, it’s the smallest acts of self-care that make the biggest difference. For me, I ran the warm water and splashed it over my face before I launched into making pancakes, this is something my dad taught me. Other options might be taking a deep breath or brushing my hair before going downstairs. It’s about taking a moment to reset, to prioritize your mental and emotional health, before putting all your energy into making the day work for everyone else.

Maybe for you, it’s spending five minutes in silence before you open your eyes. Or perhaps it’s putting on your favorite song and letting yourself feel the music for a few minutes to ground yourself. It could even be carving out space for a quick stretch or taking a moment to meditate. Small acts like these allow you to start your day from a place of calm, instead of jumping straight into chaos. It’s about finding a rhythm that works for you and committing to it, because when you take care of yourself first, you’re not just surviving the day. You’re thriving through it.

Self-care isn’t always about bubble baths or weekends away, it’s about creating space to breathe, even in the smallest of moments. So, whether it's pancakes, coffee, or simply a few quiet moments before the world demands your attention, remember making your own "breakfast first" means making sure you’re well-fed emotionally and mentally, so you can give your best to everyone else. You deserve that, and they do too.

Until next time- be kind to your mind.

—The Therapist Diaries

 

For professional inquiries please visit Voyager Therapy

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