This January to March time is always a rush of non-stop activity at school.  The Northeast, dreary winter weather does nothing to help soothe the onslaught of stress. I get so wrapped up in the doing that I don’t even realize I’m hunching my shoulders and holding my breath most of the day.  And I love what I do!  I love helping children.  The helping part is the easy, rewarding part for me.  It’s the never-ending to-do list of faculty meetings, parent meetings, assessments, evaluations – check lists upon check lists.  I am a very organized person, but the enormous amount of never-ending work has the potential to drown and discourage me.  But I won’t let it!

Thank goodness for mid-February.  Mid-February is a reminder to breathe, slow down, and show myself some self-love. My wedding anniversary is February 10^th.  Since our first anniversary 38 years ago, my husband and I have used the 10^th to herald in four days of celebration.  For us, it is a time to reflect of what we are grateful for; a time to remember that we are each other’s best thing. The 10th also stands as a reminder for me to pause, take a step back and undo some of the knot of work projects.  The work is important, but if I don’t take time for myself and show myself some love, the work will ultimately suffer.

Here are 14 ways I’m intentionally showing myself some love this February:

Smile – I notice that when I smile, I feel better. My mood lifts, and it’s contagious! People smile back and I feel connected.  When I look in the mirror, I am learning to appreciate my lines, wrinkles, and spots.  “This is me; this is my face.  Hello! You are loved,” I say to myself and grin.

Laugh – I am a laugher.  I cannot help it.  I laugh all the time.  I didn’t notice that I laugh a lot until friends brought it up.  I find joy in many things.  I think it is my laughter that keeps me sane, keeps everything in perspective when times are rough.  When I’m having a hard time, I often seek out a funny movie to put me back on track. Laughter, as they say, is the best medicine.

Read and Rest – I love to read, but often choose working over reading.  I have intentionally eked out some space in my day to read and rest, to read a bit and then ponder what the author is showing me. Words, images, ideas come flowing in, and I take a deep breath.  I am connected now to my internal world and it makes me more curious and hopeful.

Peaceful Pen – I cannot seem to find the time during the week to write, so the weekends serve as my time to escape with my pen (or keyboard as the case may be). I wake up early each morning, look out the window past the meadow and woods, think about what is on my mind, and sit down to write for a few hours.  I find that this time is essential for me.  Without this writing time, I feel incomplete and unhappy. Writing is breathing to me.

Joy in Nature – Nature brings out the best in me.  I am fortunate that I live in a place with nature all around: woods, farms, parks, and gardens.  I regularly visit these places.  When I’m in nature, beauty sinks into my skin, and I am reminded that I am a small part of this big, beautiful planet.

Beautiful Bouquet – I love flowers, all flowers. Okay, I admit tulips are my favorite.  Yellow ones.  I’m glad for that because roses are very expensive.  Roses are beautiful too, but I like something more subtle, like wildflowers in the summer. In February, I stop off before work and buy myself a simple bouquet of tulips for my desk.  They last over a week and every time I look at them, the remind me to pause and rest for a moment.

Café Life – I’ve been finding time before and after work stop by local cafes.  I choose a different one throughout the week.  It is like going on a little adventure.  Most times, I have to take out and run, but when there is more time, I sit down and savor my favorite drink, cupping it in my hands and breathing in the aroma.

Sweet Indulgence – Chocolate.  I love chocolate.  I eat way too much chocolate.  Instead of consuming lots of chocolate throughout the day (someone put a bowl of candy in the faculty room)!  I’ve decided to show a little self-control and choose one sweet indulgence each week.  This is not your run of the mill candy bar.  This is a sumptuous, decadent dessert.  It something planned, something to look forward to.

Meditate to Rejuvenate –  I am learning to slow my monkey mind and meditate.  It is not comfortable for me.  I’ve been teaching a 4^th grader how to meditate to help calm her monkey mind.  It wasn’t until meditating with her that I realized how important it is to take a few minutes out of the day to center oneself.  After meditating for 5 minutes, my body felt suddenly relaxed, and my mind was refreshed.  I didn’t feel overwhelmingly tired with the need for my afternoon coffee.

Step it up! I rush around all day and sit all night.  I’ve decided to change my couch potato habit and get up and move. I may stretch, do tai chi, dance in my socks, or practice martial arts with my husband.  But my daily activity is walking.  I love to walk in the woods, but when I can’t do that, I walk in town to window shop and people gaze. 

Artistic Spark – Drawing, painting, weaving, sewing, creating collages is something that has brought me joy since I was young.  I don’t need to be the best artist.  I just let the materials take me where they want me to go, and I find that as I move my hand, my whole body and mind relaxes.  I get into the artistic flow and everything else disappears.

Soak Away Stress – You know those luxurious bathrooms with the deep marble tubs or the beautiful jacuzzi looking over the sea? No – I don’t have either one.  But I have a deep need to soak away stress, so I bought myself a little footbath and some fragrant bath salts for my tired feet.  At least once a week, I fill up the footbath with warm water, sprinkle in the bath salts, and breathe in lavender and sage.In a few minutes, my feet feel loved.

Make Time for Music – Even though I have not one ounce of musical talent, I love music.  I listen, I sing along, I hum throughout the day. The world needs more music.  I remember going to a Broadway musical with my mother and refusing to leave when the show was over because I wanted life to be a musical.  I was twenty-three at the time! I just don’t understand why we can’t just break out into song.  And so – music accompanies me everywhere I go.  It helps me think, and it allows me to relax.

Random Act of Kindness – The best way I know to feel joy and love is to spread it to others.  Each day, I conscientiously make sure I  perform an act of Kindness for someone else.  It doesn’t have to be a grand, bold gesture.  It can be as simple as a smile!