I have no doubt that if we all gave up caffeine, sugar and alcohol, did yoga every day, got up at 5am to meditate (etc etc) then we’d be pretty invincible. We’d be flying!
But we’re women in 2025 and many of us are tired of being told we can do, and be, it all. We’re desperately trying to remember ourselves in a long list of priorities.
Many of us don’t have the means or the time to take on an unachievable set of goals at this point in our lives.
It’s very natural for anyone who has a period to have weeks when we feel energised, keen to eat healthily and look after ourselves, and other weeks when we need to hibernate, crave things like chocolate and have naturally lower energy levels.
If we lean into this, know that it’s part of our overall cyclical balance, then we may feel less guilt and shame about it all. Surely it’s all about balance?
If this resonates with you then you may also feel overwhelmed with messages everywhere telling us that we’re not doing enough. Whatever little measures we’re taking to look after ourselves - it’s still not enough.
Most of us are spinning all of the plates, feeling like we’re constantly winging it and desperately chasing that sense of balance (maybe one day we’ll find it)
If by some miracle we manage to take some time out to look after ourselves, it can then instantly lead us to feeling deflated if we’re told that it’s still not enough.
It would be so empowering if the messaging about wellness and wellbeing could focus on some nurturing encouragement.
Image by Nina Cosford
One of my aims when I started Massage and Me was to make my clients feel positive about the fact that they had carved out some time to look after themselves.
I didn’t want to give my clients self-care homework, or tell them they absolutely needed to have a massage every single week, or generally make them feel that they needed to always do more, more, more. We already absorb that message subtly all day long so I wanted my space to offer a different feeling.
Some of my clients come once a month, some every now and again when they have the time or can afford it, some once a year on their birthday and others far more sporadically (one client just returned after 7 years of having children) I know they look after themselves in other small ways every day, and congratulate them for coming to see me when they can.
I hope you don’t feel any sort of pressure in my treatment room, or tied to a certain time frame - whatever you can do is great and I hope you feel you can celebrate what you have done for yourself in that moment.
Sending love and light always,
Jo