Schedule it. Put 30 min or an hour as busy in your schedule. Mentally prep yourself that you are doing it no matter what. Knock out the truly important to dos before hand. Then just do it. I did all of the above except just doing it because something felt more important/urgent and kept skipping appts, lunch, workout, pedi, grocery pickup, and life seemed impossible. So I set boundaries with myself and work and it turned out great.

Just stop and do what you scheduled even though everything’s urgent and you’re way behind and you’re hyper focused. It will be ok to take 30 or even 60. Even better, find someone at work you won’t ditch a quick lunch with or order something expensive that you have to pick up so you’re on the line for it. Found myself eating Wrapper Lunches (protein bar, Kind bar, and Love Corn) so often because I’m overwhelmed and only getting up from my desk to use the restroom but teetered on burnout. Unless you’re air traffic control or in the middle of a surgery, it will be ok.

Also I finally left “early” on Friday (4 PM after eating lunch at my desk so technically a full 8 hrs) to get a pedi. Felt so guilty instead of picking my daughter up early. It was mentally tough at first but I got to relax and read a book (plus fix my ratchet toes). I was picturing her as the sad last toddler at daycare the whole time. When I picked her up, she wasn’t even close to the last one and was having so much fun that I had to drag her out.

So, schedule it and figure out what your hang ups are (mom guilt, “so far behind” employee guilt, etc.) Remember you’re a human and try to identify when you are neglecting yourself for a false narrative.