Learning to Listen to Your Body - And the Importance of Self-Care
Over the last couple of months, I’ve been a little quieter than usual online, and I wanted to share why.
In February, I had sinus surgery and needed time to recover. Unfortunately, as often happens for me, the physical stress from surgery caused my MS symptoms to flare afterward.
My foot drop has been a daily challenge lately, walking has been harder at times, and fatigue has been showing up much earlier in the day than normal. Instead of trying to push through it like I normally would, I realized I needed to slow down and truly focus on caring for myself and supporting my body while it healed.
That has not always been easy for me.
Like many women, I’m much better at taking care of everyone else than I am at slowing down long enough to care for myself. But this season reminded me that rest is not laziness… and listening to your body is not weakness.
Healing takes energy.
Stress takes energy.
And sometimes our bodies force us to pay attention when we have been pushing too hard for too long.
I’m not fully back to where I was yet — but I am improving, and I’m incredibly grateful for every small step forward.
One thing this season has reminded me is how important it is to support our bodies consistently during stressful times instead of waiting until we completely crash.
Over the last several weeks, I’ve been intentionally focusing on the basics again — hydration, nourishment, rest, reducing stress, gentle movement, spending time outside, and giving my body more support instead of constantly expecting it to “push through.”
I’ve also been leaning into many of the wellness tools and routines that have supported me for years. Things like diffusing calming essential oils, magnesium baths, massage, supportive nutrition, taking breaks when needed, and simply listening to my body instead of fighting against it.
None of these things are magic solutions, but together they help support my overall well-being and help me feel more like myself again.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned through this experience is that healing is rarely linear.
Some days feel encouraging.
Some days feel frustrating.
Some days require more rest than I want to admit.
But progress is still progress — even when it feels slow.
I’ve also been reminded how important it is to give ourselves grace during difficult seasons.
So many of us are carrying stress, burnout, inflammation, exhaustion, emotional overload, or health struggles while still trying to keep up with everyday life. We push through. We ignore the signals. We tell ourselves we’ll slow down later.
But sometimes “later” eventually becomes a body that forces us to stop.
If you are in a season where your body or mind feels overwhelmed right now, I just want to encourage you to start with small supportive steps.
Drink the water.
Take the break.
Go outside.
Rest when you need to.
Ask for help.
Use the mobility aid.
Take the bath.
Choose one nourishing thing for yourself today.
Small supportive habits truly do add up over time.
I’m looking forward to getting back to blogging again and sharing more wellness content, encouragement, and the little things that help make life feel a bit better — one step at a time.
And honestly… I think this season may have given me even more compassion and understanding for others walking through hard things too.
Have you ever gone through a season where your body forced you to slow down? What helped support you during that time? I’d truly love to hear from you in the comments. 💙
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.
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