Your Body Whispers Before It Screams: What I Do When I Wake Up Feeling Unwell (And Why I Don't Wait Until I'm really Sick)

One of the most common things I hear from clients when they come into clinic feeling exhausted, burnt out, overwhelmed, or sick is, "I knew this was coming."

They'll tell me they've been running on adrenaline for weeks, ignoring the headaches, pushing through the fatigue, relying on coffee to get them through the day, and telling themselves they'll rest once they've finished this project, gotten through this busy period, or looked after everyone else first.

And I understand. I've done it too.

But over the years, both through supporting thousands of people and learning to listen more deeply to my own body, I've come to see symptoms very differently. I don't believe our bodies are working against us. I believe they're constantly working for us.

I believe our bodies are wise.

And symptoms aren't random inconveniences that need to be silenced as quickly as possible. More often than not, they're little messages. Gentle nudges. Invitations to slow down, pay attention, and ask ourselves, "What is it that I really need right now?"

The challenge is that most of us have become so used to overriding those messages that we don't notice them until our bodies have no choice but to turn up the volume.

I often talk to clients about the feather, the rock, and the truck.

At first, our body sends us a feather. It might be waking up a little more tired than usual, feeling emotionally tender, having less patience, craving more nourishing foods, or simply feeling like we're moving through life with the handbrake on.

If we ignore the feather, eventually we get hit by the rock. Maybe that's a cold, a migraine, digestive issues, anxiety, hormonal symptoms, or feeling completely depleted.

And if we continue to ignore the messages, eventually the truck arrives.

I've seen the truck. I don't recommend waiting for it.

Nowadays, if I wake up feeling unwell, I don't panic, and I don't get frustrated with my body. Instead, I become curious. I know my body is communicating with me, and my role isn't to fight it. It's to listen.

Before I even open my eyes in the morning, I place one hand over my heart and simply take a few deep breaths.

I don't jump straight into thinking about my clients, my family, my emails, or what needs to happen today. I give myself a minute to arrive in my body first.

I notice how I'm feeling. I take a minute to myself before I open my eyes and just breathe.

Do I feel rested? Heavy? Congested? Emotional? Anxious? Calm. I don't judge whatever I find. I simply listen & acknowledge.

And then I thank my body. Thank you for breathing while I slept. Thank you to my heart for beating thousands of times without asking for recognition. Thank you for waking up with me again today. And I smile. Not because everything is perfect. Not because I'm pretending to feel amazing. But because I've noticed that offering my body even a small moment of appreciation changes the energy I bring into the rest of my day.

the shower ritual

Before I hop in, I usually place a few tiny grains of Celtic salt or Himalayan salt on the back of my tongue and let them slowly dissolve, my morning minerals! I also use a colloidal silver nasal spray.

These are simply practices that feel supportive for my body, particularly if I'm feeling run down or like I'm coming down with something. They're not things I recommend everyone needs to do. They're just examples of what I've learned works well for me through listening to my own body over many years.

Then I step into the warmth of the shower. And honestly, this has become much more than getting clean. It's become a ritual.

A place where I reconnect with myself before the demands of the day begin.

As the water runs over me, I often find myself thinking about how remarkable our bodies really are. There are millions of processes happening inside us every second without us needing to consciously direct any of them. My heart is beating. My lungs are breathing. My immune system is constantly adapting, learning and protecting me. My skin is renewing itself. My liver is processing. My digestive system is preparing for another day. My body knows how to heal itself.

And often, I simply stand there for a moment in gratitude.

Sometimes I'll sing in the shower.

Sometimes I'll chant.

Sometimes I'll visualise how I'd like my day to unfold.

What energy do I want to bring into today?

How do I want to feel?

What do I want to create?

And it's funny because so many beautiful insights seem to arrive in the shower. Ideas for workshops, blog posts (like this one!), meditations, different ways I can support my clients, or simply a gentle reminder that perhaps today isn't a day for doing quite so much.

Sometimes my body says,

"Slow down today."

And sometimes it says,

"You've got beautiful energy today. Let's create."

Learning the difference has been life-changing.

Nourishing my skin

After my shower, I dry off and massage my body with a blend I've made using castor oil, coconut oil, lavender and frankincense.

Some people might call it moisturising. For me, it's another opportunity to be present. As I massage the oils into my skin, I thank my body again. Thank you for all you've done for me.

I think so many women spend years criticising their bodies.

Wishing they were thinner. Younger. More toned. Less wrinkled. Less hormonal. Less tired. Less sensitive.

And I understand that.

But I've found that healing often begins when we stop speaking to our bodies as though they're projects to be fixed, and begin relating to them as wise companions that are doing the very best they can with the information, resources and experiences they've been given.

Gentle nourishment through the day

One of the simplest things I do is keep a glass of water nearby with a slice of lemon or ginger floating in it.

Every time I walk past, I take a sip. No pressure. No giant health regime. Just gentle reminders to care for myself.

If I'm craving warmth, comfort or support, I'll make a mug of hot water with fresh ginger, lemon and honey and sip it slowly throughout the day.

There's something so comforting about wrapping your hands around a warm mug.

It feels like saying to yourself, "I've got you."

And perhaps that's what so much of self-care really is. Not another thing to add to our to-do list. But learning how to consistently say, "I've got you." To ourselves.

The biggest lesson I've learned

Here's the most important part…. I don't wait until I'm sick to do these things. This isn't my emergency protocol, these are my daily self-love and caring rituals.

This is simply how I try to move through my life. Because I've learned that our bodies are communicating with us every single day. We don't need to wait until we're bedridden. Or exhausted. Or anxious. Or burnt out. Or sitting in a doctor's office wondering how we got here.

We can listen much earlier.

I've come to believe that we need to care for ourselves as though we are the most precious person in our lives.

As lovingly as we'd care for a newborn baby. As tenderly as we'd care for our child. As devotedly as we'd care for someone we deeply cherish.

Because we matter too.

And perhaps one of the most powerful things we can teach the people we love isn't how much we can do, how much we can carry, or how much we can sacrifice. Perhaps it's showing them that it's safe to listen.

Our body has been speaking to us all along.

Maybe all they have ever wanted is for us to finally stop long enough to listen.

And if you need a hand clearing out the noise so you can listen to your own body’s messages, I am here to teach, guide & support you along your path to wellness.

Abundant Blessings, Sheryl

Please note: The practices shared in this article reflect my own personal self-care rituals and the ways I choose to support my wellbeing. They are not intended as medical advice. My invitation isn't for you to copy my routine, but rather to become curious about your own body's messages and discover what helps you feel supported, nourished and deeply connected to yourself.