It’s easy to let self-care slip down the priority list. With the demands of being a full time caregiver to my mom, there’s not a lot of time or energy to devote to me and my needs. And before you know it, I’m stressed, exhausted, and maybe even sick. And I don’t have time to get sick. What I’ve learned by taking care of my mom is that it’s important for me to have time for self-care. How can I possibly take good care of someone else if I can’t even take care of myself.
Here’s The Good News
The good news is self-care doesn’t need to be expensive trips out of the country personal massages or yoga retreats (although I would love to do that). Self-care can be simple, easy, and straightforward. In fact, the best self-care is the constant repetition of small acts of self-love and kindness. Doing small things every day is easy and effective. Here are some of the things I do and suggestions to get you started. Enjoy!
- Switch everything off (smartphone, tablet, computer, TV) just for an hour, and enjoy some uninterrupted silence.
- Stand up and stretch your arms above your head. Wriggle your fingers and toes. Shrug your shoulders up to your ears, and then drop them down. Do a few head circles, nod and shake your head gently.
- Breathe gently and deeply, in and out, three times.
- Put on y
our favorite song and get up and dance like no one’s watching - Take the dog for a walk. If you don’t have a dog, borrow a friend’s dog and enjoy watching them live in the moment.
- Buy yourself a healthy treat. Choose the ripest peach, the most luscious looking mango, the most fragrant strawberries.
- Sit under a tree and feel the quiet.
- Have a self-date and go to a movie or museum.
- Get some positive strokes. Ask three friends what they love about you.
Take a power nap. What a difference a 15- 20 minute nap can do to your energy level.- Take a nice hot bubble bath and eat dinner on the sofa in your pjs.
- Have an early night and take that new novel to bed and read for a while. Or read the sample you downloaded on your Kindle.
- Listen to meditation on your smartphone or tablet. There are lots of apps with thousands of guided meditations for relaxation.
- Treat yourself to your favorite childhood food.
- Take a friend to the park and go cloud-watching. Lie on your back, relax, and just look at the sky.
- Declutter your social media. Mute or delete people who drag you down with negative energy.
- Most Important! Take one day every week where you do something for you, whether it’s a hobby, sport, bookshop browsing, or staying in bed reading.
Do something every day that nourishes your mind, body, and soul, and you’ll find self-care is not so hard after all.
“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence. It is self-preservation.”
-Audre Lorde