self-care: Fill Up the Tank
Self-care: Fill Up the Tank
How far could you drive on an empty tank of gas? Unfortunately, probably not that far at all.
Imagine you are the car, running on those fumes. What would that look like? What would that feel like? Since the likelihood of you driving anywhere at this point is quite low, you can also forget about driving someone else to their destination, someone who may have been relying on you for that ride.
We need to Fuel Our Body
Think of it this way, our body is like a car, and car’s need fuel to perform. Like that car, we need to take care of ourselves and get refueled each day. Have you ever woke up and felt great- so great that you could take on the world? This is because you fueled your body! You got enough sleep, fed yourself, drank plenty of water and did things you enjoy. If you don’t fill your tank, you start the next day empty. These are the days where we feel tired , or just not like ourselves. When our tanks are empty, it is hard to do anything, and when a minor problem comes up, it becomes a huge catastrophe. Then we feel the stress, mind racing, and fell “we are not enough”
What does Self-Care Involve?
I always think of the analogy of the airplane and how we need our oxygen first before we can take care of the child. Same goes when we are trying to get sober, we need to take care of ourselves before we can take care of others. Taking a walk, read a good book, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family is taking care of us. I use to feel the mom guilt when I went to meetings or met with my sponsor. Self-care is an important part of recovery from substance use disorders. It can also help you prevent relapse. But doing those things and putting my recovery first made me realize that the more we attend to our overall wellness…we create balanced, more fulfilled lives.
But we must remind ourselves that self-care is not selfish. Self-care is the fuel that drives us to care for those around us. So, what can you do to fill that tank back up?
About Kathy:
Kathy Murphy is a Certified Professional Recovery and Life Coach. She has 3 teenage children and lives in Westfield, NJ. She uses her own experience, strength, and hope to guide her clients to a life of sobriety. Feel free to connect with her at www.KMsobercoach.com or email kathy@kmsobercoach.com.
