You Don’t Need More Time for Self-Care · Foundations of Ascension

Mercedes Aspland

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16h • General discussion

You Don’t Need More Time for Self-Care

If you ever feel like you don’t have time for self-care, you’re not alone.

For years, I only stopped to care for myself when I was completely burnt out, when my body had already forced me to.

It was always an emergency response, not a daily rhythm.

And I found that way of living just doesn’t work.

I’m a single mum to a five-year-old on the autistic spectrum, I run two businesses, and I’m still renovating my little house bit by bit. Life is full. Beautiful, but full.

I used to think I needed big chunks of time for yoga, meditation, or a long walk to “count” as self-care.

But that’s not realistic for where I’m at in life right now.

So I started looking for tiny moments instead, little ways to care for myself inside my existing day.

These are some of the things I do now:

🌿 Three deep breaths while the kettle boils.

🌿 A one-minute body scan between tasks.

🌿 Sitting back and opening my chest a few times a day instead of hunching over my desk.

🌿 Replacing a five-minute phone scroll with a mini nervous-system reset, tapping, stretching, or simply closing my eyes.

Those micro-pauses changed everything.

They remind me that self-care isn’t something I earn; it’s something I deserve.

Because every small act of awareness, every moment I stop and breathe, reinforces the message:

I matter. My nervous system matters. My peace matters.

You don’t need a 60-minute routine or a perfect morning to care for yourself.

You just need to start where you are, one small pause at a time.

What’s one small way you give yourself care in the middle of a busy day? Let's create a nice long list so we can inspire each other when times get tough.

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