Giving Yourself Love

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If there is one thing you should plan, schedule and budget for during deployment is is taking care of yourself. It's so easy to get lost in the stresses of deployment, caring for home and family. No matter where you are in your life there will always be more to do than there is time and energy for. So don't let it take over your life, wear you down and take away your joy.

Here are 10 things you can to do give yourself a little time and tender loving care today;

1) Get a massage, pedicure, manicure or all of the above. Budget this into your monthly spending, even if it's just a 10 minute chair massage. It will help you stay healthy in body and mind.

2) Take a 15-minute break for yourself. Step away from family, TV, computers, cell phones and find a quiet place to sit back with a cup of tea or other beverage and just be. Breathe deeply, take in the sunset, relax your body from your feet right to the top of your head.

3) Take a walk. Get your blood flowing, look at nature, get some fresh air in your lungs. You'll start reconnecting with yourself as you look up to enjoy all the world has to offer you.

4) Meditate. There are so many awesome guided meditation podcasts you can download from iTunes or other sites. There are mediations to get you energized, relax you, help you sleep, let go of hurts and anger and many more topics. They are free and will give you a chance to relax and to tune your mind to a higher frequency.

5) Take a bath. Hot water, eyes closed. Heavenly. I like this philosophy about the power of bathing.

6) Meet up with a friend. Spending even just a few minutes on the phone with an inspired, fun friend can get your energies focused in a positive, cheerful direction quickly. It's good to laugh together, share frustrations, laughs and goals.

7) Read a book. Whether it's a juicy romance or a silly comedy, reading is a great way to focus your energies on one task and give yourself a new world to escape into.

8) Wander somewhere new. Whether it a park you've never been to or a shop you've always wanted to visit, new places can revive your soul and give you fun new ideas and inspirations.

9) Take yourself to lunch. Sitting in the sun, eating something you didn't have to dig out of your own fridge can be fantastically joyful. Bring a book or a magazine and enjoy food you didn't have to make.

10) Buy yourself a little treat. It doesn't have to be expensive, it can be a new pair of earrings, a favorite magazine, a new pair of running socks. Spending money can be a very dangerous way to get through deployment, note I didn't say buy yourself a new wardrobe or roomful of furniture. But an occasional little treat won't kill the budget and it's fun!

Hope these ideas help you plan to give yourself a little more love, more time and more care. You deserve it!