Self-Care

What do you do to ensure that you receive self-care? Do you tuck away in a quiet part of your home with a good book, binge on a favourite series, indulge in a bubble bath, or get outside and do something active? We hear more and more how important it is for us to take some time for ourselves. That’s because it’s true. According to Mental Health First Aid, “Engaging in a self-care routine has been clinically proven to reduce or eliminate anxiety and depression, reduce stress, increase happiness, and more. It can help you adapt to changes, build strong relationships, and recover from setbacks.”

I have been practicing self-care for years. During the work week, I have a routine of getting up early and doing either yoga, Pilates or qi gong from anywhere between 20 to 40 minutes. After that, I meditate in a quiet place for 15 minutes. Incorporating these self-care practices into my daily routine helps me take care of my physical and energetic bodies, as well as calm and clear my mind. I find that by doing these things as part of my morning routine, I feel good both emotionally and physically, and I start my day in a positive manner.

These aren’t the only times I practice self-care. I also enjoy attending yoga and Bellyfit classes, going on walks / hikes, meeting friends for coffee, or laying on the couch with a good book. I find that the busier I get the more I need to carve out time for myself. Our lives have become so busy. We are so proud of ourselves when we can state how many tasks we’ve accomplished in a day. Why is it that we feel so guilty when we finally take some time for ourselves? We shouldn’t. How can we possibly expect ourselves to maintain a whirlwind pace if we don’t allow our body and mind to rest? I’m sure you’ve all had a friend or known someone who took on an incredible amount and then got hit hard with a cold, the flu, laryngitis or something much worse. That is our body’s way of telling us to put the on brakes and slow down. I know I am not the first person to have ever said this, but it is true. So, if you are one of those people who feels that you don’t have time for yourself because you have too many things on your to-do list, I am telling you that if you don’t slow down, learn to say “No”, and fill your bucket, you will be out for a much longer period of time compared to the time needed to ensure you recharge your battery and maintain your sanity.

I find that I can really tell when I get out of my morning self-care routine. I get grumpy, some might even say ‘pissy’. I feel like I want to scream and I am short with my husband and others around me. I go into myself, get quiet and over-think things. I take longer to do tasks because I don’t think as clearly. Taking time for myself helps me to be more of an observer of life rather than a reactor. I have more patience and am more able to look at situations objectively rather than as a victim of circumstance.

I am so incredibly grateful for the strong female role models in my life who share their wisdom. They insist that we, especially as women, need to unapologetically take the time we need to recharge. We are no good to ourselves and we are certainly no good to our families if we are burnt out and can’t get out of bed in the morning.

So again, I ask you…what do you do to practice self-care? Might I suggest that when choosing something to recharge yourself, you ensure that it isn’t something you have to force yourself to do. (By this I mean, don’t all of a sudden set a goal of running every day for 30 days if you’re not a runner.) You and I both know, if it isn’t something we feel connected to, we’re not going to do it. If you’re having difficulty finding something that might work for you ask yourself the following questions (taken from www.betterup.com):

• When I feel overwhelmed, what’s the first thing I want to do?

• When do I feel my best?

• What makes me smile?

• What do I daydream about doing?

• What do I want to do that I never get to do?

• How do I want to feel?

Living in a constant state of stress is how we create disease in our bodies. The sympathetic nervous system is activated and we live in fight/flight/freeze. Now the stress hormone cortisol is released and we don’t sleep well, we get headaches, have difficulty concentrating or remembering things, have digestive issues, gain weight, and develop heart disease, depression or anxiety (www.webmd.com).

Some of you may still be thinking, “But I just don’t have enough time in my day!” Here are some examples of self-care that www.betterup.com says you can do in just one minute:

• Drink a glass of water (Hydrating yourself might be just the pick-me-up you need.)

• Practice mindful breathing (You can do this while driving to work, standing in line at the grocery store or while in the shower.)

• Clear a spot (De-cluttering a spot in your home can help relieve some stress and help you feel better.)

• Get – or give – a hug (Doing so can help reduce stress.)

I hope by now you have come to realize that taking time for yourself isn’t something to be ignored. You are both worthy and deserving. For me, even taking time to write this blog article is an act of self-care. I truly enjoy writing and it lifts my spirits knowing that not only are there people out there reading my work and pausing to think about what I have to say, but I am potentially making a difference by causing others to create positive changes in their lives. I thank you for taking the time to read yet another of my posts, and I gently request that you invest in your health and set up a regular routine for your own self-care.