For many years, I spent a lot of time ignoring the signs of accumulating problems in my body because I just needed to get through one more wedding or finish one more holiday. It’s a common theme in our work with flowers; short turnaround times, and often at the sake of ourselves. 

The bottom line: we work so hard to do beautiful, meaningful work ,and if we don’t prioritize self-care, burnout and injury are often right around the corner. 

Not sure what to focus on?

Below are a few simple tips on self-care that have made a big difference for me.

Tip One

EAT!

On busy days, having balanced blood sugar is so key in keeping our head cool when unexpected things happen (which they always do in flowers) and keeping our energy stable.

When we skip eating (guilty here… 🙋‍♀️), it’s counter-productive to getting our work done efficiently. One of my favorite resources and guides for eating for nourishment is Wild + Well-Fed Wellness. I’m not affiliated—just a huge fan of focusing on eating for sustained energy and balanced hormones.

My best personal tip is to keep cheese sticks and an orange or some dates nearby on super busy days for a highly effective way to get a protein, fat, and carb quickly. If I can, I will meal prep, batch cook, and freeze nourishing options so I can rely on them on busy days.

Tip Two

DRINK

If you’re reading this and you do not have a beverage nearby, go get one. Chronic dehydration is a real issue and just drinking water doesn’t always cut it. A good quality orange juice, coconut water or water with minerals makes a big difference. 

My favorite way to add minerals to all my beverages is this very pure salt from Crucial Four. I will add a pinch of this to orange juice or water and I can feel the difference immediately in my body for the mineral balance. 

It’s easy to get consumed with the work, but the reality is, that we’re working against ourselves when we don’t nourish and hydrate. To keep better track of how much I’m drinking, I love this glass water bottle, it’s BPA free, super easy to clean and holds a lot of water. The Berkey is another option that has a filter inside if you have to rely on a lot of tap water when working!

Tip Three

GET HELP

Recovery time isn’t strictly about what we consume. Let’s face it, we’re expected to be “on” all the time in our businesses. So, pencil some time into your schedule for recovery, especially during busy times like wedding season and holidays. I schedule my acupuncture/massage/chiro visits after I am expecting a particularly busy day. In addition to taking care of ourselves physically, we also may need help emotionally. This may look like hiring a business coach, finding a mentor, or hiring a therapist to be a neutral party in discussing how you are running your business and how you are caring for yourself mentally, emotionally, and physically. 

In the floral industry, we’re expected to wear a lot of different hats. It’s only natural to let self-care go by the wayside when we’re so concerned with building a better business, evolving as designers, and making happy clients. As a floral educator, it is part of my mission to put self-care at the forefront of the work we do. We make beautiful things. Why not treat ourselves with the same love and care?

So GO EAT something nourishing, drink some WATER, and know that you’re doing incredible work. I see you, and you’re worth the effort of self-care!

Cheers,

Amy

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or licenses health care provider. The information and other content provided in this blog, or in any linked materials, are not intended nor otherwise implied to be medical advice or a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition.

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