
5 ways to find rest & renewal this holiday
Mindfulness, Self-CareYesterday I spent an hour with my December calendar--not penciling things in, but cancelling pending events and making choices that supported a more open, spacious, restorative winter schedule.
Does the thought of hanging lights and attending…

Are you practicing emotional self-care?
Self-CareThis morning I woke up feeling fabulously nourished and complete. What happened? This past weekend I attended a beautiful community sing-a-long, had a three-hour lunch with a beloved mentor and went for a hike with a group of dear friends. All…

5 life-changing ways to start your day
Self-Care, Stress ManagementI'm in the middle of my busiest speaking time. I just finished two engagements and am headed out this week for three more. While I love to travel, break routine and "do it different," going for extended periods where I'm eating new foods, sleeping…

THE most important question to ask yourself (+ video)
Self-Care, Women's RetreatsGrowing up as the oldest of seven children in a chaotic, creative, often-stressful environment (five boys, two girls), I don’t ever remember anyone asking me, “Renee, what do you need today?” My recollection is I floated through my days…

5 ways to practice spiritual self-care
Self-Care, Women's RetreatsIt’s 1976, and my mom and dad are sitting quietly with their eyes closed, hands resting upward—thumb and index finger touching—while my younger siblings crawl on their backs and shoulders. My older two brothers and I sit nearby, holding…

What we miss by “holding it together”
Mindfulness, Self-CareI’m the oldest of seven, the product of overachievers, a hyper-competent “woman who always has the answers and knows where she’s going." My friends and family see me as the go-to girl who always seems to have it together.
But over the…

7 self-care rituals I can’t live without
Self-Care, Women's RetreatsThe last two weeks have been a series of rapid transitions. My 16-year-old starts 11th grade this week, I'm preparing to launch into a full fall speaking schedule, and my husband, son and I have been traveling off and on since June 5th (from…

6 ways to stay connected to your partner
Self-CareEverywhere I turn my friends are navigating choppy waters in their most intimate relationships. This makes my heart hurt, but I can relate. Lately, my husband and I have been feeling out of sync and stressed out from parenting our wonderful,…

5 self-care strategies for your toughest days
Self-CareYesterday morning I found myself inert on the couch, trying to find the energy to shower and head to the office (I had slept very little due to a tough parenting patch). I know I'm not alone. Lately, I've watched many of my friends and clients…

Smart employers get it: self-care is crucial
Self-CareI recently attended two professional conferences. One was filled with companies/employees who were talking about resiliency, mindfulness and how essential self-care is to finding work-life balance. The programming—which touched on the importance…

Why we need each other
Self-Care“No matter how much we meditate or pray, we still need others to help us dismantle the walls of our isolation and remind us of our belonging.” – Tara Brach
Last month I was leading a work-life balance retreat for a group of twenty successful…

6 things to do when life gets hard
Self-CareI was visiting with a dear friend recently who shared she’s battling depression. “It comes and it goes. But when it returns, I often freeze and forget what helps me most; all my great self-care practices fly right out the window,” she…