This past year has been a challenge for most of us. So instead of focusing on those New Years resolutions that will last about a week or two, why not focus on self-care. It’s so easy to take care of others, but neglect our selves. These suggestions below are things that will make us feel better about ourselves.
Self Care Tips
Self-talk
What does your inner voice say? We all have these running thoughts in our head. Is yours kind and accepting? Or are you beating yourself up over what you should and should not have done. The things you say to yourself have a big impact on your mood.
If you notice that your self-talk in negative try to combat those thoughts. A simple way to do this is: What would you say to a friend or loved one in the same situation? My guess is that you would come up with something to say that was kind or encouraging.
Body acceptance
Many people beat themselves up about what their body looks like. How about working on self-acceptance? No one has the perfect body. We all have things that we would change about our looks or our body if we could. Guess what? We can’t change our genetics. We tend to be built like one side of our family or another.
Many people compare themselves to the way others look. A big flaw in this method is that we tend to compare ourselves with people who have the very trait we wish we had. Doing so will always lead to us coming up short. How about looking at a wide sample of people. That way you will notice that some have the characteristic you wish you had and others don’t.
Reach out to others
As the holidays come to a close you may feel a little lonely. All the holiday festivities are over and there is a natural let down. Talking with a friend or making plans will help change that feeling. Even just talking on the phone or texting with a friend can help. We tend to be social creatures. So reach out. People like hearing from you. It also feels nice to be invited to something, so you might just make someone else’s day.
Spend time in nature
There is nothing like being in nature to get us out of our own head. Practice mindfulness when you are outside. Take in the view; notice all the things you can see. What do you hear? If you are quiet you can hear all kinds of sounds in nature. Are there any smells? Perhaps you can smell the ocean, grass or pine needles. How about touch? Pick up or touch various items around you. Feel the texture. When you are truly in the moment there is no room for any anxiety.
Laugh for self care
Laughter is wonderful medicine. Do you have a friend or family member that makes you laugh? If so, call them up, or spend time with them. There is nothing like laughter to forget anything negative that is going on. It’s a wonderful tension reliever. It’s also good for your relationship and connecting with others.
Get enough sleep
Nothing impacts our day or mood more than not getting enough sleep. It seems as if we have so many things on our plates that our sleep can suffer. If you don’t already have a bedtime routine, try to establish one. This will help your body naturally start to wind down. It’s best to put away the phone, tablet or laptop one hour before bed as the lighting can make it more difficult to wind down. Many people like to read (physical book or magazine). Be sure the temperature in your room is comfortable. Place your alarm clock or phone away from your nightstand. Many people look at their phone throughout the night, which can make it even more difficult to fall back asleep. You start doing mental math to figure out how much sleep you have gotten or can get, which will only ramp you up.
Movement
It is important to get your body moving. We aren’t made to be sedentary creatures. What do you enjoy doing? Is it dancing, walking, running, doing yoga, or playing a sport? These are all important for not only your physical health, but your mental health. I am not talking about setting up any type of New Year’s resolution, but something you can live with. This will make you feel good about yourself.
Medical self care
Are you one of those people who put off going to a doctor? Or do you wait until there is some type of health crisis, then head to the emergency room? An important part of self care is taking care of yourself medically. Medical insurance will cover a physical and/or well woman’s visit. If you have dental insurance two checkups per year are covered. If you do this you have a much greater chance of preventing anything serious.
Remember, self-care is not selfish. It’s just the opposite. If you don’t take care of yourself then you can’t take care of others.
If you do the things on the list above you will not only be happier, but you will be healthier. It’s a win-win. When we are at our best, we can be there for others. If there is anything I can help you with for your self-care, please give me a call at 713-304-6554.
Take care,
Debbie
