Self CareDo you practice self care? Or has it been so long that you find yourself wondering, "What is self care exactly?"
It is the habit of nurturing yourself. Our society has become so fast paced and chaotic that for many people, doing kind things for themselves gets put on the back burner. Instead, people run around all day long and at the end of the day fall into bed exhausted. They may have accomplished a lot of tasks, but unless they implement and follow a nurturing plan, they are bound to become
worn out and unhappy.
You probably have your own list of things that help you to relax and feel good. Coming up with the list isn't the hard part. It's actually finding the time and then doing it that is the challenge. How do you fit self care into your life? It's a good idea to start off with a plan. First, identify what things you would like to do for yourself. Some of them can be special treats that you might do just once a month, and others should be things you can do most days. Now, find the time. Self care activities should not add to your stress! So you have to find time during the day when you can actually enjoy doing something nice for yourself. And it doesn't have to be big! Maybe reading the paper alone for just 15 minutes in the morning really sets you up for a better day. Or maybe you can wait to get groceries tomorrow so you can take a short nap today. Adjust your schedule so you are able to fit in some self care in a non stressful way. If you've established good personal boundaries , it will be easier to take time away from others so that you can focus on taking care of yourself. We all have to deal with stress. And no matter how well you plan for it, there are times when it can just feel overwhelming. Learning how to recognize and manage the physical effects of stress you experience is a good self care strategy. And how about food? Do you ever find yourself turning to food when you are feeling stressed out or emotional? We often use food as a treat. And that is OK in and of itself. But when food turns into your only source of comfort, which then makes you feel guilty, it has become a problem. You can overcome emotional overeating and learn to make better food choices!
Would you like some help setting up a good nurturing plan for yourself? Together we can figure out what is self care like for you and how you can fit it into your life!
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Treating yourself kindly has ripple effects that will positively impact other aspects of your life. When you've had time to unwind in the tub, don't you usually feel better when you get out? Maybe your kids get an extra story read to them that night. Or maybe you have more patience for your spouse.
So what is self care? It is the best thing you can do for yourself. And admitting that doesn't make you selfish or self-centered. It means that you know you must be in the best condition to do your many jobs as well as you can. And taking care of yourself is job number one!
