We all know self-care is important. It’s such a huge buzz word(s??) and I’m sure you’ve seen post after post about how important it is. You’re important, so you need time to do things to fill up your energy and love bucket (haha…that could be dirty…love bucket) and take time for you.

You know that. I know that. We both know that. But, most of us aren’t doing it.

Why?

Time and guilt, I think. At least that’s what it is for me. Time and guilt. Life is scheduled up the wazoo (yes, wazoo) and finding time to take care of me seems daunting. Then, I always think “I could be doing this with the kids, they’d love this”…and then I spend time feeling guilty I’m not sharing the experience.

Some of you may not feel like that and I bow down to you. Truly.

I was trying to think of a good tip for self-care for this post while driving in my car with my son yesterday and he was playing DJ. He turned on Steve Miller Band’s “Take the Money and Run“(linked there for you, click it and listen while you read this post!). My son started smiling immediately and bopping his shoulders (not dancing, he “doesn’t dance”) and said, “This is the song Daddy plays when he makes pancakes”. He was immediately taken to that moment and was happy. I thought, “Holy smokes, music is a powerful tool” and told him that any time he hears that song forever in his life now, he’ll think of his daddy making him pancakes.

And, it’s true.

Aren’t there songs that take you back to a moment in time and make you smile and remember the good?

So, my self-care tip today isn’t a tip at all, it’s an idea.

Put together a playlist (for you super cool 40+-year-olds…it’s mixtape time, baby!) filled with songs that bring on a strong, happy, positive response. Not sad and hard moments, only songs that remind you of your youth and happy times.

Think about the songs you heard as your played Midnight Ghost Hour until the street lights came on. The songs your parent(s) played on road trips. The song your Mom played while baking cookies. Or making pancakes. Go waaaaay back. Then, work your way through the years. Songs from elementary school. Middle school. The song you had your first slow dance to. The song you heard at a beautiful moment in your life…maybe your wedding song.

Who knows…but go back in your life and think of the moments and the songs that trigger joy and happiness. Add them all to your playlist.

Have it at the ready. Call it something fun. I think I’ll call mine Lindsay’s Happy Happy Joy Joy Mix. Play this playlist any time you’re feeling a little blue, stressed or simply need an energy boost. I hope you’ll do this, it really is fun to reminisce and put it together. And that is the self-care practice…the benefit is you’ll have a bombass playlist that brings true joy to you.

Oh, and feel free to edit and switch out songs as you remeber them. Or, if you add a song but when it comes on it, if it doesn’t elicit a happy memory or joy, get rid of it! Add and edit until you have the best mix ever.

I’d love to hear what song is your number one song on your list. Mine is Friends in Low Places by Garth Brooks. Oh yeah, I’m a country girl and my Daddy and I scooted around the dance floor to that song at my wedding wearing trucker hats and smiling up a storm.

Ah…I will remember it always. Thank you, music.