“You can’t pour from an empty cup.”

Anyone heard this saying, “you can’t pour from an empty cup”? ☕️

I know, pretty obvious, right?

In this context it’s a metaphor for making sure we take good care of ourselves.

One thing I hear a lot is ‘self-care is being selfish.’ Well, it certainly isn’t. Self-care is about self-preservation, not selfishness. More often than not, we are brought up to believe that putting others’ needs before our own is the most important! That is important, but we need to learn to recognise when we are crossing the line between caring so much for others that we forget to care for ourselves.

When we forget to care for ourselves our cup becomes to run low and empties. So what can you do to fill it back to the top?

Most of us have seemingly endless to-do lists that is all seems slightly overwhelming. Why not think about what has to be done today, and what can wait – and what doesn’t really have to be done at all - when you think about it?

We often get distracted from our ‘priorities,’ doing stuff that doesn’t really matter. This is so, so easily done, and I to can be guilty of this. But, how about readdressing your priorities in smaller, manageable chunks, and adding more time spent reading, colouring, being creative or taking time out to go on a gentle walk?

Here are some other things that may help to fill your cup:

🙅🏼‍♀️Spend more time saying “no” (politely).

📱Less time on social media.

💆🏼‍♀️If you don’t feel like doing something that isn’t a necessity – don’t.

🪐Trying to remember what is worth investing your time and energy in, what to leave and what to send out to the above and beyond!

It’s not always as simple as that, of course. Life very easily gets in the way and we regularly may get pressures from all sides. But if you remember (even sometimes, if not all the time) you can’t pour from an empty cup you’ll get through.