What does regular self-care mean to you?
First, what things can you do each day to take care of yourself?
Self-care is vital to living a life filled with joy. When we aren’t taking care of ourselves we can get cranky, irritable and we aren’t very pleasant to be around!
Many of us weren’t taught to think about ourselves and take care of of our own needs. The perception of thinking of ourselves is “selfish”. I propose we need to take care of ourselves in a new manor.
In other words, check in often throughout your day, with how you’re feeling. Keep your Emotional Scale, I share often, handy.
Look at it to remind yourself if you’re on the right side, you need to shift.
Just this past week, I found myself on the right side of the Emotional Scale and took it out on someone that I spoke with on the phone.
She was a front desk worker at a doctors office. I’m helping with many medical things for my mom. As former nurse, I’m happy to do this and stay on top of things.
Similarly, my youngest sister took the brunt of my anger during this same situation. As I apologized to each of them, I felt a bit better.
As a result of doing a meditation, following my anger and my fears, it shifted me to the left side of the Emotional Scale, where it’s much easier to live.
Have you ever heard of the acronym H.A.L.T? It’s a great self-care tool.
When we are Hungry, Angry ( I add Afraid), Lonely or Tired, we need to halt and pay attention to what we need at that given time, and take care of this need. I am generally a happy person, living in joy and appreciation. And there are some times that I find myself perceiving life in a way that is not any of these things.
As I find myself not living in the joy I usually do, I stop and H.A.L.T and take care of myself.
I know when I do this, I’m really giving everyone around me a gift. When I’m my best self, I have more to give to others, don’t you?
Do you ever take a day or half of a day to just do something you really enjoy? Tune into yourself, and ask regularly, “What is a way right now I can take care of me?”
Above all, when you do some of these self-care practices, you feel better and so do others around you:
- Begin your day with something inspirational. Prayer, a gratitude journal, and inspirational readings are just a few.
- Get your body moving. Walk, jog, dance, workout, swim, yoga, anything to exercise your body.
- Eat healthy foods. If you’re not sure what that looks like, Google it.
- Drink lots of spring water.
- Take good supplements.
- Breathe. Slow down and calm yourself with meditation. You can simply download relaxing music on your smart phone and listen to it.
- Spend time around people you enjoy.
- Get plenty of sleep
These are all ways I take care of myself consistently. I really know that making these choices to take care of me daily, have helped me to create a life I love. And during the times I’m feeling stressed, I know what I need to do.
Being consistent, adding in a new way of self care regularly, are vital to living the life we were meant to live. It’s up to each of us to take on self-care, and make it a daily practice.
What are some ways you can begin to take care of you?
You, me, we all owe it to ourselves and everyone we encounter every second of every day, to really practice many different ways to take care of ourselves!
Here’s to you and the new things you will add to your own life, beginning today!
I believe in you and know you can do this,
Connie
PS. Here is a great article to read in addition about self-care:
PSS. The Emotional Scale to print and look at often:
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