Self care with insane work hours

This has been the craziest work week I have had since college. I think the last time I worked as many hours with as little sleep I was in college. From Monday at 1p to Wednesday at 11pm I worked roughly 38 hours. I'm not kidding. I have software that logs the number of hours I work on a project. I am a life coach but I also do web work and a variety of related projects for my brother's advertising company. This week I was helping out with a project that that was very behind schedule. I worked out Monday morning and that was the last time I saw anyone other than the guy behind the counter at 7-11 who sold me my caffeine and the Chinese food delivery guy. That is until Thursday when I took the fruits of my 38 hours of labor to a meeting to be presented.

Self care takes on an entirely new meaning when you are on a short term project demanding that much attention. Normally self care means 7 hours minimum sleep, a workout in the morning, eating food I prepare even if it's my left overs and planned snacks.

Self care for those four days meant acknowledging I was tired, taking a 10 minute break when the pressure made me feel like screaming or crying, ordering take out and canceling my trainer. While ordinarily working out is the kindest thing I do for my physical and emotional well being, in this high stress week I needed to give myself permission to skip the gym and eat take out. I needed to trust that 4 days would not undo all the effort I put into my body and my health. I needed to trust myself to get back on the bandwagon, into the gym and my own kitchen when the project was complete.

The great news is that Friday I worked out and Sunday I cooked enough chicken and chopped enough veggies to carry me through much of this week. I am fully back in my routine and rested from what was complete insanity last week. I don't normally work those hours but it is good to know I can take care of myself on the rare occasion I have to.