Jacinta Plazzer is the founder of Yeppoonie Smoothie, a home-grown business based in Yeppoon on the Capricorn Coast in QLD.
What does self-care mean to you?
Self-care encompasses balance in my life to enable me to devote time to myself to ensure my health, both physical and mental, is not neglected. Managing stress, remaining positive, effective time management and making healthy choices, not just food related but lifestyle also, are all facets of self-care in my mind.
How do you know when you’re feeling stressed or burnt out?
This is a feeling I try to avoid as it is not conducive to productivity. When I am feeling overwhelmed, which is usually due to being unable to keep up with a growing number of tasks, I find I operate less effectively. I find I need to step back and take time to prioritise tasks when I feel like this.
Do you have a regular self-care routine? If so, what does it look like?
When my life is balanced and time is on my side, I walk daily for at least forty minutes. I love to walk along the hills which line the bay not far from my home in Yeppoon. It is a great way to start or end the day. It allows me to gather my thoughts, make plans, or just clear my mind. Each morning after I take my daughters to school, I stop for a coffee at my favourite cafe and spend half an hour responding to messages and emails.
At 11am I always stop work and take the time to make a smoothie for myself and Sarah who I work with, which keeps me energised for most of the afternoon. I have started going to a personal trainer once a week to do strength training. He would like me to go more but this is all I can fit in at the moment. These seem like minor things, but when you are busy, taking time for small moments daily, to relax your mind, body and spirit, are essential.
What bumps you off your self-care routine and how do you get back on course?
My business Yeppoonie Smoothie is growing rapidly, so often I am faced with lots of deadlines and a heavy workload which throws my routine out. Self-care definitely takes a back-seat at these times. I replace a forty minute walk with forty minutes of hitting snooze, and not having that time to clear my head and take stock definitely makes me feel stressed. I try to take one day or week at a time, I know I will get back on track eventually, and maintaining a positive outlook at these times is of utmost importance.
Where do you go for inspiration, ideas or tools for self-care?
Talking to like-minded friends, reading books, and listening to podcasts are my usual sources of inspiration.
What do you think you need to improve in terms of your self-care practice?
Effective time management is probably the area I most need to improve which will enable me to maintain a regular self-care routine. I feel it is a constant work in progress. I am always thinking ahead to how I can improve my methods and work practises in order that I may have a more balanced life.
