Self-care has become such an important part of my life these days. Mainly, I think, because for nearly a decade I put myself last. I dedicated so much of myself to work and family life that I kind of lost myself in it all. I was operating on auto pilot - work, family, sleep, repeat. There was no time left for me to do the things I enjoy just for myself. I was starving my creative side, which takes up a pretty big part of me, and honestly was too busy to realize just how much of myself I had lost.

When I decided that I was ready to end my career in television news, it felt like a great weight lifted off my shoulders. Cliche, right? But true nonetheless. Then when I actually made the transition to working from home and setting my own hours, I had time to notice all the things I'd been missing. I'm not really sure how long I had been unhappy. I think I had been in 'survival mode' for so long that I didn't recognize unhappiness in myself. But now that I know what to look for, I can head it off at the pass, because I don't ever want to live that way again.

I've opened up to you guys recently about my need to refocus and find a better balance between all the things I have/want to do. What I haven't talked about is the how of it. Here are my top 5 self-care methods for when things start to get overwhelming.

1. Allow myself extra sleep, whether that's going to bed earlier or taking a nap during the day (because let's face it, if you've got a young child, you don't sleep in).

2. Cut back on social media (and sometimes blogging).

3. Escape into a book ... or two or three. I have to be careful with this, though, since I can easily tune out everything in favor of fiction.

4. Have a long, hot soak in the tub...by myself.

5. Go somewhere by myself, even if it's just to the grocery store.

What do you do to keep yourself at your best?