Most of us think of self-care as taking a “break” from our kids or spouse. Yes, that is part of it and sometimes much needed. However, self-care is much more than getting away from our daily lives for some girl time.
It’s about taking care of our mind, body, and spirit and listening to what we need to be our best selves. You might think this sounds simple, but look around. How many people do you know that don’t sleep well, suffer from health issues, have anxiety, or can’t cope with what life throws at them?
The answer: a significant number of people. You probably know more people that ignore what their bodies are telling them than those who listen.
My guy is a prime example. When we started dating, I noticed he took an over the counter medicine for his stomach. As our relationship progressed, I noticed that every time he ate cheese was when his stomach hurt. I’ve told him many times you probably shouldn’t eat cheese because it’s upsetting your stomach. The standard response I get is “that’s ridiculous talk.” He knows that it isn’t good for him, so why does he continue to eat the cheese? Because in his mind he loves cheese. He doesn’t want to go without it, so he ignores what his body is telling him.
I don’t force it on him, because I know for him to make a lasting decision, he needs to decide for himself. As time has gone on (and on his own doing), he has reduced the amount of cheese he eats.
This behavior is not uncommon. Most people are aware that what they are doing is not suitable for them, but they don’t want to “miss out” on anything.
Some people ignore their bodies completely; they don’t believe that what they are doing is what causes their imbalance. I’ve had people tell me that what they eat has no significance to their health. That their anxiety is “who they are,” or they can’t sleep because “they were made this way.”
None of which is true.
Listening to our bodies and taking care of ourselves is the most important thing you will ever do.
Last week’s Mindfulness Challenge, Take Care of Your Self, we covered the first five things on your self-care checklist. This week we will cover the next five.
Spend Time Outdoors.
Spending time in nature is a great way to de-stress from your day. It allows your brain to slow down and rest from daily events. Even if you only have ten minutes a day. Take this time to spend outdoors and practice being mindful. If thoughts come up from work or other stresses, gently refocus your thoughts back to nature.
It is also an excellent time to balance your physical, spiritual, and mental all in one. While you’re letting your daily stresses go away, take a brisk walk, and marvel at the creations that have been given to us.
Drink Water Throughout Your Day.
Our body is 60% water. Water keeps us balanced, energized, and hydrated. It has many benefits, like helping with digestive issues, releasing toxins, and can even help you lose weight.
While the debate rages on about how much we should drink each day. I choose to go by the rule of half my body weight in ounces. For example, if you weigh 120lbs, you should drink 60 ounces of water each day. That is 7 1/2 cups.
Exercise.
You might think that exercising is only for our physical side. Not true. When we exercise, it releases endorphins in the brain, which help reduce stress. That is why it is an essential part of self-care.
Even spending ten minutes a day exercising is beneficial to us. If you currently aren’t doing any exercise in your daily routine, I suggest starting out walking. Yoga, swimming, and biking are also other great ways for you to begin exercising. When my doctor suggested I give up kickboxing for a something a little friendlier to my joints, I took up Kundalini Yoga. It is a much slower paced yoga than other types, which is perfect for the beginner. If you chose, it also demonstrates ways to practice your spiritual side as well.
Have at least one healthy meal.
Now for optimal results, it’s best to eat 80-90% of your meals healthy. However, I’m a realist, and I know that most wouldn’t even consider that if I suggested it. What I will ask is that you focus on adding one healthy thing to your meals each day. It could be anything from eating a salad before dinner to replacing breakfast with a green smoothie. Even eating veggies, nuts or seeds for an afternoon snack. For now, focus on one thing you can change about the way you eat each day.
Practice Deep Breathing.
Deep breathing is one of the most powerful things you can do for yourself. Of any self-care thing you choose to do, this one is by far the most natural and most effective. It helps regulate our emotions, lowers blood pressure, boosts energy to the brain, and releases all those feel-good endorphins. It can be done any-where at any-time, and it costs you absolutely nothing.
To breathe deeply, all you need to do is inhale, let your belly rise. Once you have all the air, you can get in, count to five, and then release it slowly. When you first practice deep breathing, you may feel lightheaded. Keep practicing, and that will go away.
Next week we will go over the last three on Self-Care Checklist, and I will provide you a list of other self-care ideas to help you in your journey.
If you have not already signed up for our weekly mindfulness challenge but would like to, please do so here. I would love you to be a part of this mindful tribe!
Articles you might have missed in the last few weeks:
Mindfulness Challenge, Take Care of Your Self.
How to Live Your Most Awesome Life.
Why You Should Have Manuka Honey in Your House.
Peace & Love,
Ela
Leave a Reply
Your email is safe with us.