With everything that’s going on in the world, there is little doubt that most, if not all, of us are in desperate need of self-care. We so often put off the nurturing for ourselves as we deal with the stress and anxiety in our families and in the world at large.
Self-care is about acknowledging the stress in your life and then taking action to reduce that stress with the intention of finding balance.
Exercise: Fold a paper into four equal quadrants. Title each quadrant with one of the following words: physical, mental, emotional, spiritual.
Under each of the above titles, list what attention, negative or positive, each of these areas has received in the last week. Look at the balance between these areas. Where do you need to relieve tension? Is there an area you have neglected?
Below are suggestions you might take to bring balance to your life. Remember, in order to take care of others, you must first take care of yourself.
1. Take a break from social media.
2. It’s not the time to go to a spa but give yourself a spa day at home by indulging in a bath with special oils or scents. Take the time for a manicure and pedicure.
3. Be firm with your boundaries with others. Turn off your phone for a specific time if you need to.
4. Turn off the news or limit your exposure if you think you would feel more stressed not knowing what’s going on in the world.
5. Reach out to someone who loves and supports you by phone or zoom and share a drink or a meal together while apart.
6. Tell yourself every morning and every night that you are a good person.
