Self Care
Self care = self love. For many of us we do for others tirelessly while leaving ourselves exhausted and overwhelmed. I see this in almost every single person I work with. We put the needs of others before our own over and over and over again without any time or space left to nurture ourselves.
It took me years to put myself on the list. It was only after I landed in the hospital (again) for overextending myself did I realize I had to make a change. It took me a long time to get to where I am today, but I no longer throw myself under the bus to save someone else. I am loving, helpful and caring to others, but no longer at the expense of my health, sanity or goals. Here are some tools that may help you feel more joy and fulfillment and be in the driver’s seat of your own life.
Check out the full video presentation here: https://youtu.be/-5TvAZpHWfY
What is self care?
Self care is a lifestyle
In this lifestyle you create, you feel in control of your health, body, mind and spirit.
Performing a series of actions to improve your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing to eliminate as many life triggers of stress as possible and identifying what you need in order to manage life’s stress and live a life of joy and inner peace.
Self Care = Self Love
It means giving yourself the nurturing you would give to others, and giving it to yourself.
It is NOT self indulgence or selfishness.
Self care promotes a healthy relationship with yourself.
Why is self care important?
People are feeling lonelier and less able to unwind and slow down, which makes them feel more anxious and overwhelmed.
When self-care is regularly practiced, it can reduce stress, improve immune function, increase productivity, and give you more self-esteem
Practicing self-care helps you reduce stress triggers and allows you to recover quicker.
Practicing self care also shows your spouse, your children or grandchildren that caring for yourself is ok…in fact, it’s one of the best things you can do for you and for them!
We have an epidemic of anxiety and depression. Literally every single person I know has chronic stress.
How stress affects the body:
The human body is designed to experience stress and react to it. Stress can be positive, keeping us alert and ready to avoid danger.
Stress becomes negative when a person faces continuous challenges without relief or relaxation between challenges
Stress that continues without relief leads to “distress” - a negative stress reaction. Distress can lead to physical and psychological issues including headaches, upset stomach, high blood pressure, sleep disturbances, autoimmune disorders and more.
Research suggests that stress can also bring on or worsen symptoms of disease.
If you don’t deal with your stress, it WILL, eventually, come out somewhere.
Get to the root of the problem…the stress will make you feel better.
How you handle your stress has a HUGE impact on your health. Check out all the negative ways stress can affect your health:
Excuses and obstacles:
The most common reason people give for not practicing self-care is lack of time and money.
Find the time. Trust me, you can find the time. Get up 15 minutes early, turn the TV off, put your phone down, etc. People make time for things they value, so value yourself and find 15 minutes a day (or more) to do something for yourself.
Find the money. I hear this all the time…”I don’t have the money”...for massages or a girl’s weekend, etc. If you make something a priority, you find the money. If you put aside $2/day, that’s $60/month, that’s a massage, a gym membership, a dinner with a friend, etc..
Bonus: Self care also doesn’t have to cost a thing! You can do most things in the convenience of your own home.
Mindfulness, going to sleep on time, eating better, movement, facials, baths,
Why don’t more people choose self care?
When life gets busy, self care is the first thing we forget but the result is that we become stressed and burned out.
Self care helps to prevent burnout but one day off is not enough to restore our body and mind.
Many people think of self care as something they do once every 6 months for themselves, like a massage or facial. The reality is that TRUE self care is a practice we put in place every day to care for ourselves.
You need a self care lifestyle, one in which you are a priority, where you listen to your body and mind every day. A life where YOU are in control of yourself.
You have one body, one lifetime, so you may as well enjoy the ride and take care of your vehicle “your body and mind” along the way.
Types of self care:
Emotional – Talk to someone, reflect, journal, read, listen to music, work out, take a walk, cry it out, hug someone, laugh, take a nap, use your oils for emotional support. I love the Emotional Aromatherapy Touch Kit, perfect for emotionally supporting yourself…for every mood and emotion!
Environmental – Take a walk, breathe in fresh air, enjoy the sun, enjoy the night sky, redesign a room, declutter your house.
Financial – Open a savings account, start saving (even if $1 per day), try saving even more if you are already saving, invest, cut back on unnecessary purchases, ask for a raise. Having financial peace and security is a big part of self care for some.
Intellectual – Read, listen to audiobooks, watch documentaries, complete puzzles, be mindful of the world around you, complete a program, graduate.
Occupational – Learn a trade, get your degree, train for a promotion, accept the promotion, apply for your dream job, take on a task you enjoy, open your own business.
Physical – Work out, take a walk, eat healthy, dry brush, invest in massages, find someone to help with nutrition or exercise, get annual checkups for yourself, get 7-9 hours of sleep per night. Sleep is essential for overall health and wellbeing. Here is my favorite Sleep Essentials Kit to keep your sleep goals on track.
Social – Meet up with friends and family, contact old friends, volunteer, exude positivity.
Spiritual – Meditate, pray, reflect, engage in yoga, visit a meaningful site, be mindful of your attitude, consider your higher purpose and meaning.
Where do I start?
Create a “self care lifestyle”. This is different for everyone and it’s important to do what is right for you.
I like to start with identifying your happiness levels in each area of your life:
Life is about balance. When we are out of balance, things can seem out of control and life can be stressful.
This exercise will help you identify the areas you are struggling with.
Place a dot on the line in each category to indicate your level of satisfaction in each area. (dis-satisfaction is 0%. Satisfaction is 100%)
Connect the dots
You’ll see the imbalances and dissatisfaction, but for self care, I want you to focus on the 1-2 areas that are the most fulfilling for you and start creating self care habits there.
ONLY Select one or two things to focus on in the beginning.
Looking at your completed circle chart, reflect on the one or two areas that bring you the most comfort, joy, pleasure.
Grab a piece of paper and write down everything you can do to care for yourself in that area. What are things you can DO to bring comfort, joy or calm in those one or two areas?
Make small changes over time that are manageable. You do not want to set up a bunch of "self care goals" only to be disappointed that you did not stick with them.
Remember!! This is a lifestyle...you are creating a self care lifestyle.
Choose one behavior you'd like to incorporate into your routine in the next week.
Commit to practicing that behavior every day for a week.
Reflect on how you feel.
Add additional practices when ready.
Get support through sharing practices from loved ones, a coach, a licensed or certified professional (dietician, therapist) or through your community or workspace.
My self care practices:
Food: Clean eating, juicing, supplementation, 1 gallon purified water/day, mineral drops.
Physical: Massage, gua sha, essential oil practices, colonics, dry brushing, sleep priorities, detoxing a few times each year, baths.
Movement: Exercise routine at least 5 days per week. Apple Watch tracker.
Environmental: Gardening, grounding in the grass, travel
Intellectual: Pep Talk, Tony Robbins Inner Circle monthly classes, audiobooks
Financial: Stopped unnecessary spending. Ask myself "is this a want or need" and also if the purchase aligns with my long-term goals. $200 now can cost you $50,000+ in 10 years.
Occupational: Functional nutrition, GI Mapping
Spiritual: Priming, meditation, being mindful of my mental attitude
Remember that self care is about you. What brings you joy, comfort, peace and aligns with your goals and dreams. You may need to try a few things to see what works for you, but don't stop.
Whatever you do, it must be done both intentionally and consistently to have maximum impact. Even if you only have 5 minute increments throughout the day, use that time wisely.
Over time you will begin to see the benefits and peace within yourself, which also has a ripple effect on others.
YOU are the best project you’ll ever work on…make the investment in yourself today…you are worth it!
