Sara Miller - Self-Care Series 2
Kicking off another week of self-care!
This week we’re diving even deeper into the self-care topic!
We’ve talked with Sara Miller who helps women find balance in their lives and fall in love with their bodies.
Self-care looks different to all of us. What works for me, may not work for you.
Today, Sara shares with us her inspiring story and her struggles along the way.
Sit back and enjoy the journey!:)
What is your name?
Sara Miller
How long have you been working in your field?
1 year and counting!
Why did you choose this career?
The more that I have worked with women the more that I am understanding why I chose to be a health coach.
My purpose in life wasn’t always clear.
I’ve jumped around from artistic endeavors in painting and ceramics, to teaching students in art, to baking bread and cakes, and to working in fast-paced restaurants as a line cook.
My love of creating things with my hands has been around as early as I can remember.
I have a deep-rooted love for food and sharing it with others. However, I felt like all my creations weren’t giving me the fulfillment I had hoped for.
It wasn’t until I moved from my hometown in Minnesota to the great state of California with my fiance, that I discovered what I was meant to do.
I was forced to be on my own and be responsible for myself and I couldn’t shake the thought of one woman, my mom.
Her and my father are still in Minnesota, watching me change and evolve from a distance and rooting me on throughout the whole process of creating my health coaching business.
My mother is my best friend and biggest support.
She’s wild, she’s funny, she always takes a joke too far, and her mind is always in the gutter. She also feels like she could have been a better mom, like she let herself go over the years, and she doesn’t feel like herself.
It’s a struggle to see the woman who is a part of you, in a downward spiral of self-loathing and sadness.
I believe that my purpose in life is to help women see just how beautiful they are even when the world tells them otherwise, to help them reclaim who they are when they are lost, and to bring them into their personal power.
As women, we have been told to be quiet, be nice, and above all things, be pretty. With our curves, laughter, quirkiness, uniqueness, fiery wit, and charm, we all are forces to be reckoned with.
As a health coach I am able to combine my love of working with women to step into their powerful selves and with creating recipes!
The women that work with me stop yo-yo dieting, embrace their curves and love their bodies, AND lose weight from a place of love rather than hate. These women can then show up for themselves, their friends, and their families fully without guilt.
It is so fulfilling, and I so look forward to all the amazing women I will work with in the future.
My self-care routines have become non-negotiable. If I don’t do these for myself each day, I am not able to function as my best self.
What did you struggle with the most in the beginning of your business?
I had a really hard time with visibility and sharing my story. I didn't think anyone would care and I was also extremely afraid of people hating or judging me for what I was doing in my life.
How do you balance your work/life?
The work that I do is very rewarding, and it is also takes up most of my energy because I give my full attention, time, and space to the women I work with.
Taking care of myself is my number one priority so that I can show up for the women that I am serving in the best way possible.
In order to do this, I have a set schedule for each day of the week.
I start and end my week with a reflection/feedback journaling session that takes about 15 min. This helps to organize my thoughts and get an idea of what is coming up for me or what I can change for the next week.
Each day also has a designated topic to work with (ex. Mondays are content creation days, Tuesdays are recipe creation days, Wednesday and Thursdays are for client calls/workshops, etc.). This allows me to stay focused during the day, so I have my evenings open.
My day starts around 6 am and ends by 3 pm.
For my self-care routine, I wake up super early (3 am) to make sure I have time to meditate, journal, drink some lemon water, and exercise before I do any work!
It sets me up for my day to have already accomplished these things!
I have more energy to focus towards my business and show up fully for my clients. I also set up boundaries for myself to only be on social media when I am creating content.
I try to avoid scrolling or checking social media as much as possible when I am away from my work space!
What does self-care look like for you?
This is my number one priority. I practice self-care in the mornings, afternoons, and evenings.
In the morning, I meditate, drink lemon water to start up my digestion, journal, and move (workout). In the afternoons, I take a break to meditate once again and come back to my center; I do this as a reminder to stay focused and to be with myself.
In the evenings, I will turn off all electronics at least an hour before bed, carry out my nightly facial routine (oil cleansing, eye serum, and overnight moisturizer), I will have a sleeping tonic (apple cider, honey, and warm water), then brush my teeth.
I didn’t always do this, but my self-care routines have become non-negotiable. If I don’t do these for myself each day, I am not able to function as my best self.
How did you overcome your struggles?
I know that what I am doing helps people and creates lasting change, so if anyone does have a criticism or a judgement, it's not my issue.
Not everyone is going to be a good fit for me and vice versa.
I have learned that I can only be who I am truly meant to be, and I expect others to show up as who they are truly meant to be, and it's okay if we don't agree on things!
If you met yourself 3-5 years ago in that struggle, what is the one thing you would tell yourself that could help?
If judgement is your only reason to not start, then you might as well start!
Where do you see yourself in 5 years when all your dreams come true?
I see myself hosting workshops and retreats, traveling the world and making connections with people, and living simply.
I see myself helping and supporting thousands of women to love themselves again.
What are you working on that you want to share?
I am working on creating a seasonal meal prepping guide for an entire year and also launching a 28-day whole food cleanse!
MINDFUL MODERN NOMAD, EMPOWERMENT COACH, EMOTIONAL BODY MAPPING COACH/TEACHER, LMT.
I can happily say that my dreams came true with both my mindset and holistic business coaching and with my bodywork and emotional body mapping teaching. I feel I am finally fully able to be there every step of the way with my client's needs and be a witness to the process.
ARE YOU A HEALER, A GIVER, WORKING IN A SERVICE-BASED BUSINESS (WHETHER IT’S YOUR OWN BUSINESS OR NOT)?
Are you forgetting to make space for your personal expansion, healing and growth? Do you put YOUR wellness on your calendar? Stay inspired doing the thing you do for other people by joining our EMOTIONAL BODY MAPPING ACADEMY, created for people just like you and I, who serve to be reminded that holistic care starts with holistic self-care.