I’m in my band dad era.
I saw that phrase on a t-shirt recently and thought, “I need that shirt.”
My two youngest kids are both in varsity marching band. That might sound fun (and it is), but for our family, it also means long hours and a lot of commitment each fall.
We’re deep into competition season, which means every Saturday, a small army of students, parents, equipment, and props gets packed up and hauled somewhere for twelve to sixteen hours.
Since both kids are involved, my wife and I feel a real sense of duty to help. For me, that means evenings at the high school working on props and gear, plus all-day commitments on competition weekends.
Marching band sits on top of what was already one of the busiest stretches of my year.
If you bumped into me and asked, “How are you?” my honest answer would be “busy.” And I’d mean it.
I don’t think I’m alone in that.
Lately, everyone I talk with seems stretched thin. Work is in Q4 crunch mode, budgets are being finalized, and life is full.
If that sounds like you, I want to offer a gentle reminder: prioritize self-care.
Self-care is to your well-being what a charging cord is to your phone. Skip it for too long, and your battery drains. And we all know how well our phones work when they’re out of power.
Here’s what’s helping me recharge right now:
- Daily meditation
- Exercise every day (I alternate OrangeTheory workouts with long walks)
- Eight hours of sleep every night, which means getting to bed early
- Bi-weekly therapy sessions
- Intentional time with people I love — a friend hangout, date night, or breakfast with my kids
Everyone’s version of self-care looks different. My wife recently started doing paint-by-number projects and found that it helps regulate her nervous system and improves her sleep.
Feeling busy may be unavoidable, but what you can control is how you care for yourself in the midst of it. The habits you choose determine whether you stay grounded or run out of energy.
What does self-care look like for you right now? And how can you make it a non-negotiable part of your routine?
Take care of yourself so you can take care of others.
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