One of the downfalls of knowing how to take-care of ourselves is that when we're not able to act on our wisdom, we feel the discrepancy-- maybe even more painfully than we would if we'd never embarked on a journey of self-growth or self-care. It's hard enough when we don't have time to get adequate sleep or prepare healthy food or exercise or relax. It only makes it worse, however, to add on to this by hammering ourselves about it: "Oh, now I'm so tired-- why didn't I go to bed earlier!" "I was doing so well with my exercise and now I've blown it!" When we're going through tough times that throw us from our rhythms and routines, it helps to offer ourselves kindness and compassion, as well as a sense of trusting that we really will return to our healthy ways.

As they say, "This too shall pass."