Ever feel like you're drowning in your own life? Like you're juggling so many things—work, family, laundry, texts, dinner, expectations—and somehow you didn’t even make the list? The pressure is constant. The noise is loud. And slowing down feels impossible.
You tell yourself you’ll rest later. You’ll breathe later. You’ll take care of yourself… later. But “later” never comes.
The truth is, you’re not just busy. You’re burning out.
And I know, because I’ve been there too.
We’re so good at showing up for everyone else that we forget how to show up for ourselves. Self-care becomes an afterthought, something “extra,” something you wish you had time for.
But what if it wasn’t extra?
What if it was essential?
Let’s be real—when life gets busy, self-care is usually the first thing we ditch. Even though we know how much better we feel when we take care of ourselves, it still ends up on the back burner. And I’m not just pointing fingers here. I’m totally guilty of this too.
When Life Feels Like Too Much
You wake up already behind. The notifications are pinging before your feet even hit the floor. The to-do list is a mile long, and it keeps growing. The emails are piling up, someone at work needs a response now, and your family’s asking, “What’s for dinner?”—and it’s not even 10 a.m. There’s laundry to fold, bills to pay, texts to return, and maybe—just maybe—you’ll get a second to breathe between one obligation and the next. Sound familiar? When everything and everyone is demanding something from you, the last thing on your mind is slowing down for self-care. It doesn’t even feel like an option. You’re just trying to make it through the day without losing it.
You wake up already behind. The notifications are pinging before your feet even hit the floor. The to-do list is a mile long, and it keeps growing. The emails are piling up, someone at work needs a response now, and your family’s asking, “What’s for dinner?”—and it’s not even 10 a.m. There’s laundry to fold, bills to pay, texts to return, and maybe—just maybe—you’ll get a second to breathe between one obligation and the next. Sound familiar? When everything and everyone is demanding something from you, the last thing on your mind is slowing down for self-care. It doesn’t even feel like an option. You’re just trying to make it through the day without losing it.
But here’s the thing…
We Know Better. But Doing Better? That Takes Intention.
It’s so easy to get caught up in the hustle of getting things done, showing up for everyone else, and checking all the boxes. And before we know it, we’re running on fumes—exhausted, snappy, disconnected, and wondering why everything feels so hard. Somewhere along the way, we picked up the idea that self-care is a luxury. That it’s something we do when everything else is done. A reward for good behavior. But let’s be honest… the work is never really done.
It’s so easy to get caught up in the hustle of getting things done, showing up for everyone else, and checking all the boxes. And before we know it, we’re running on fumes—exhausted, snappy, disconnected, and wondering why everything feels so hard. Somewhere along the way, we picked up the idea that self-care is a luxury. That it’s something we do when everything else is done. A reward for good behavior. But let’s be honest… the work is never really done.
The Truth About Self-Care
Self-care isn’t extra. It’s not selfish. It’s not indulgent. It’s necessary. It’s fuel for your body, your brain, your emotions. It’s what helps you keep going—not just to survive the day, but to actually enjoy it.
Self-care isn’t extra. It’s not selfish. It’s not indulgent. It’s necessary. It’s fuel for your body, your brain, your emotions. It’s what helps you keep going—not just to survive the day, but to actually enjoy it.
Let’s Flip the Script
Instead of saying, “I’ll take care of myself when I have time,” let’s start saying, 👉 “I’ll take care of myself so I have the energy to do everything else.” That one mindset shift can change everything. Because when we care for ourselves, we’re not taking away from anyone—we’re showing up with more joy, more patience, more purpose.
Instead of saying, “I’ll take care of myself when I have time,” let’s start saying, 👉 “I’ll take care of myself so I have the energy to do everything else.” That one mindset shift can change everything. Because when we care for ourselves, we’re not taking away from anyone—we’re showing up with more joy, more patience, more purpose.
A Simple Starting Point: 10 Minutes a Day
If you’re not sure where to begin, here’s a small challenge we can do together: Set aside just 10 minutes a day for self-care. That’s it. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t have to be planned. Just 10 minutes of intentional time to reconnect with yourself. If you’re a planner like me, schedule it in like an appointment. If your life’s more unpredictable, weave it in where you can. The goal is consistency, not perfection.
If you’re not sure where to begin, here’s a small challenge we can do together: Set aside just 10 minutes a day for self-care. That’s it. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t have to be planned. Just 10 minutes of intentional time to reconnect with yourself. If you’re a planner like me, schedule it in like an appointment. If your life’s more unpredictable, weave it in where you can. The goal is consistency, not perfection.
Need Ideas? Try One of These:
Pick one a day—or repeat your favorites:
Pick one a day—or repeat your favorites:
- Step outside and take 10 deep breaths.
- Write down 3 things you’re grateful for.
- Stretch while the coffee brews.
- Sip water with lemon and actually pause while you drink it.
- Put on your favorite song and move your body.
- Diffuse a calming oil while you work or cook.
- Do a quick tapping or breathing session.
- Read a few pages of a book (not on your phone!).
- Massage your hands or neck with oil or lotion.
- Lay down and rest your eyes—even for 5 minutes.
- Journal your thoughts—no editing, just releasing.
- Say something kind to yourself (like “I’m worth caring for”).
- Do a mini skincare routine with intention.
- Sit in silence and just be for a minute.
Remember: it doesn’t have to be fancy. It just has to happen.
Let’s Be Honest for a Second…
Here’s a little mindset shift that keeps me in check: Every time I catch myself saying, “I don’t have time,” I try to reframe it as, 👉 “It’s not a priority right now.” Oof. That one stings a little. But it helps me see where my time and energy are really going—and whether they match the life I’m trying to build. If self-care is truly a priority (and let’s be real—it should be), then it deserves space in your day.
Here’s a little mindset shift that keeps me in check: Every time I catch myself saying, “I don’t have time,” I try to reframe it as, 👉 “It’s not a priority right now.” Oof. That one stings a little. But it helps me see where my time and energy are really going—and whether they match the life I’m trying to build. If self-care is truly a priority (and let’s be real—it should be), then it deserves space in your day.
Final Thought
You’re not alone in this. I’m working on it right alongside you. We all fall into the trap of putting ourselves last. But the more we practice flipping the script and making small shifts, the more it becomes a natural part of how we live. Self-care doesn’t have to be complicated. It doesn’t have to cost money or take hours. It just has to be intentional. You’ve got 10 minutes. Let’s use them well. 💛
You’re not alone in this. I’m working on it right alongside you. We all fall into the trap of putting ourselves last. But the more we practice flipping the script and making small shifts, the more it becomes a natural part of how we live. Self-care doesn’t have to be complicated. It doesn’t have to cost money or take hours. It just has to be intentional. You’ve got 10 minutes. Let’s use them well. 💛
👉 For more wellness tips and mindset shifts, join my free Monthly Wellness Program here: https://getoiling.com/LynnDehmlow/landing/monthly-wellness-program
Repeat these positive affirmations to yourself...
* I am resilient and can overcome life's challenges.
* I am strong and have the power to make the right choices for me.
* I am grateful for what I can do.
When we talk about wellness, we usually focus on what we do—what we eat, how we move, which supplements we take. But there’s one part that often gets left out until it screams for attention: our emotional health.
When we don’t make space to process what we feel—stress, sadness, grief, overwhelm—it doesn’t just disappear. It gets stored in the body. And eventually, it shows up: as tension, burnout, anxiety, or even physical illness.
I know this from experience.
When my mom passed away, I found myself in a deep, dark place. Grief doesn’t knock. It crashes in and makes itself at home. Her passing stirred up layers of emotional baggage I had quietly packed away for years and years. Things that had nothing to do with her or her passing. I thought I was “handling it,” but the truth was—I wasn’t processing it.
During this time, I remembered a tool I had learned about but hadn’t used consistently—Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), also known as tapping. It wasn’t until I started practicing it regularly that everything began to shift.
Tapping helped me pause, feel, and heal. Through this practice, I was finally able to acknowledge what was buried deep—not just the pain of losing my mom, but old wounds I didn’t even realize I was still carrying. With each session, I felt a little lighter, a little stronger, a little more like myself again.
And now? I feel more equipped to handle whatever life brings. Not because life got easier—but because I now have a tool that helps me move through emotions instead of getting stuck in them.
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Why Emotional Wellness Deserves a Seat at the Table
We often treat emotions as something to “get over” or “push through.” But true wellness means having the ability—and the tools—to work with our emotions, not against them.
Here’s the truth:
👉 Emotional health is just as important as physical health.
👉 Processing emotions doesn’t make you weak—it makes you resilient.
👉 You don’t have to carry everything forever.
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What Is Tapping, and Why Does It Work?
Tapping is a gentle, easy-to-learn technique that combines acupressure with mindful statements. By tapping on specific energy points while focusing on emotions or thoughts, we help the body release stored stress and shift into a calmer state.
It’s like a reset button for your nervous system.
When I pair tapping with essential oils that support emotional healing, the effect is even deeper. Scent has a direct pathway to the limbic system—the part of the brain that processes emotions. Applying something like Valor, Stress Away, or Inner Child helps me feel more grounded, safe, and supported as I work through tough emotions.
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Want to Learn This Practice for Yourself?
This month in my Monthly Wellness Program, we’re focusing on emotional wellness, and I’ll be teaching a class called “Breathe, Tap, Heal”, where I’ll walk you through this practice step-by-step. It’s simple, empowering, and something you can use anytime, anywhere.
Whether you’re carrying something heavy right now—or just want to feel more emotionally resilient—I invite you to join us.
Because you don’t have to do this alone.
And you don’t have to carry it all forever. 💛
You are worthy of healing—and the right tools can make all the difference.
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📌 Your Next Step
• 💬 Comment below or message me if you’d like a free Tapping + Oils guide
Repeat these positive affirmations to yourself...
* I am resilient and can overcome life's challenges.
* I am strong and have the power to make the right choices for me.
* I am grateful for what I can do.
For years, I quietly carried a little regret in my heart—wishing I had stuck with the piano. Life got busy, priorities shifted, and that creative part of me slowly faded into the background. But recently, Rob surprised me with a piano keyboard, and something inside me lit up. I decided it wasn’t too late to start again.
Now, I’m teaching myself to play, little by little. My fingers are remembering, my brain is working in new ways, and I can honestly say—it feels incredible. It’s not about being perfect or performing for anyone else. It’s about doing something that is just for me. And that in itself is powerful.
There’s something deeply fulfilling about allowing ourselves to try something new (or return to something we once loved). The world constantly asks us to show up for others—family, work, community—but showing up for ourselves matters too. Learning to play the piano again has become more than just a hobby. It’s become an act of self-care, self-discovery, and joy.
I want to encourage you today: is there something you’ve always wanted to try? Something you’ve put off because it felt too late, too hard, or just too uncertain?
Maybe it’s painting. Writing. Dancing. Learning a language. Picking up an instrument. Whatever it is—let this be your gentle nudge to go for it. You don’t have to be “good” at it. You don’t need to have it all figured out. The beauty lies in the journey. In challenging your mind, stretching your creativity, and discovering that you can still learn, grow, and enjoy something new.
There’s joy in doing something simply because it brings you joy.
So here I am, learning piano again in my cozy corner, delighting in the sound of progress—sometimes clunky, sometimes sweet, but always mine. And it feels so good.
What’s calling to you? What would you love to do, just for you?
Repeat these positive affirmations to yourself...
* I am resilient and can overcome life's challenges.
* I am strong and have the power to make the right choices for me.
* I am grateful for what I can do.
Living with a chronic illness like MS means embracing unpredictability—something that can feel as frustrating as it is humbling. One day, I might be walking without any support, and later that same day, I might be relying on my cane or even a wheelchair. That contrast can be jarring, not just for others watching from the outside, but for me too.
I’ll be honest: I’ve had to do a lot of internal work around using mobility aids. I currently have a love-hate relationship with my cane and walker. I love that they give me freedom, that they allow me to keep doing the things I love and showing up in life. But it also took time—and a big shift in mindset—to move past the feeling that needing them meant I had somehow failed.
It’s tough to reconcile the image of yourself you used to carry with the reality of needing help. I was in my thirties when I first needed assistance walking. That wasn’t part of the plan. It wasn’t what I imagined my life looking like. And when kids would ask me things like, “Are you a grandma?”—not out of malice, but curiosity—it stung. (And side note to parents: gently correcting those comments matters. - But that’s another post for another day.)
This one is about pride. About how I had to set it aside in order to live well and fully. It’s about asking for help—not because I’m weak, but because I’m strong enough to know my limits and take care of myself.
It’s about humility. It’s about grace.
Because living with MS means acknowledging what my body needs from moment to moment, without shame. And part of that journey has been learning that using a cane, or walker, or wheelchair isn’t giving up—it’s choosing to keep going. It’s refusing to miss out on life.
So if you see me walking well one moment and in a chair the next, just know: I’m doing what I need to do to keep showing up. And maybe that’s the bravest thing any of us can do.
Your Turn:
Have you ever had to shift your mindset around asking for help or using a tool (mobility aid or otherwise) to support your health or independence? I’d love to hear your story. Let’s open up this conversation and help normalize support—whatever it looks like. Drop a comment or share your experience below.
Repeat these positive affirmations to yourself...
* I am resilient and can overcome life's challenges.
* I am strong and have the power to make the right choices for me.
* I am grateful for what I can do.
Creating Your Tribe: The Power of Supportive Connections
We aren’t meant to do life alone. In our hardest moments, in our victories, and in the quiet in-between, having the right people around us makes all the difference. Your tribe—the ones who lift you up, encourage you, remind you of your strength, and pray for you—are essential. They don’t just show up for the big moments; they’re there in the everyday. They listen, they support, and they have your back.
But what if you feel like you don’t have that kind of support? What if you feel isolated, unsure of where to turn?
I know that feeling all too well. When I was first diagnosed with MS, my entire world changed. I went from a busy, rising career to suddenly not being able to drive, work, or even socialize the way I used to. It was one of the loneliest times of my life. But little by little, I started building my support system.
At first, it was my husband and kids, who adopted a we’re in this together attitude. We learned to laugh through the crazy symptoms and even crazier reactions from others. (My high school-aged daughter made me a shirt that read “I am not drunk or high” on the front and “I have MS” on the back to squash the rumors flying due to my difficulty with balance issues!)
Then there was my mom, who stood by me at every doctor’s appointment and supported me when I needed to ditch my first doctor for one who actually listened. There was a church member—someone I didn’t even know well at the time—who also had MS. She and her husband became treasured friends, and I learned so much just by watching how they supported and fought this battle together.
And then there was a stranger—someone I never even met in person—who changed my life. We connected through an MS support group, and she shared her expertise in training service dogs. She walked me through the entire two-year journey of training Lilly (only the best service dog ever—although I might be a little biased!).
My tribe kept growing: new doctors who listened when I turned to complementary alternative medicine, friends who understood, and countless others who showed up along the way. (I truly treasure and appreciate you all so much!)
Looking back, I realize that my tribe didn’t form overnight. It came together one person at a time, often when I least expected it. And that’s the thing about finding your people—you don’t have to search for a huge community all at once. You start with one connection, then another, and slowly, your support system grows.
Your Tribe is Out There—Keep Looking
If you feel alone right now, I want you to know that your tribe is out there. Maybe they are already around you, waiting for you to recognize them. Maybe they will show up in an unexpected place, just when you need them most. Or maybe they are still waiting to meet you.
The best way to start? Be that person for someone else. Listen. Encourage. Show up. The more you offer kindness and support, the more you’ll attract people who do the same.
I’d love to hear from you—do you have a strong tribe, or are you still searching? What’s one quality you look for in a true friend or supporter? Share in the comments—I’d love to encourage and support you on your journey!
Repeat these positive affirmations to yourself...
* I am resilient and can overcome life's challenges.
* I am strong and have the power to make the right choices for me.
* I am grateful for what I can do.
