MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, SELF-CARE

 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2023 - MAKING TIME FOR YOURSELF

This last week I mismanaged my time.  I said “yes” to too many good things - and depleted myself.  Two days ago I took about five short naps during the afternoon. I’d be doing something on my computer and was just so tired I closed my eyes for a few minutes.  (I think I’m a good napper - generally, 10 to 20 minutes refreshes me).

I’ve used this verse many times - “Love your neighbor as yourself”.  That implies you have to love yourself first.  That doesn’t mean love yourself to extremes - I “need” a new car. I “need” a mink coat” (does that exist anymore?), and I “need” champagne and caviar. 

Some self-love quotes:

You can’t pour from an empty cup (that is if you have spent all your energy, you need to refill yourself)

It is so important to take care of yourself and find clarity.  The most important relationship you have is with yourself. 

Self-care is not an indulgence, but self-preservation

Self-care is so much more than a beauty regimen - it has to start in your heart.  A pedicure doesn’t last, but daily reflections do.   (Meditate, and speak positive affirmations daily)

*****

There are 8 main areas of self-care: physical, psychological, emotional, social, professional, environmental, spiritual, and financial. It should never feel like a chore or be expensive in nature. Choose activities you are comfortable with and switch them up from time to time.

Physical self-care

This is really self-care emphasis #1.  Take care of your physical body.

The source I’m looking at has this list:

• Eating a healthy and nourishing meal

• Moving your body daily, either by walking, running or working out, etc.

• Taking probiotics or multivitamins daily

• Getting between 7-9 hours of good sleep

• Sitting in the sun and soaking up vitamin D (but don’t overdo it!!!)

• Spending time in nature

• Having a soothing hot bath or shower

• Keep hydrated.  (The body is 55 to 60% water according to studies)

I am finding that on the nutrition side, fiber-rich foods are important to me.  I eat oatmeal almost every morning.  (And, not the prepackaged sugary kind).  I add raisins, cinnamon, sugar (not too much), and a variety of spices (some days it is clove, other days nutmeg or allspice).  

And, of course, the old rhyme - “Beans, beans, the musical fruit” (if you know the rhyme - good, and if you don’t you can google it!!!) <grin>. (My mother occasionally had constipation - and (ahem) fiber can help solve that!!)

(And, while I can write about this - the deep dark secret is (I sometimes cheat).  I finished a carton of ice cream yesterday, and I bought a bag of Easter candy chocolate eggs last week - and I hate to say it is over half gone and Easter is six weeks away).  

And, last week, I only reached 6,000 steps three days out of seven!!  Yes - I’m too busy.  No that’s not true.  I frequently come home from my part-time job at about 7:00.  I could walk and exercise - but I rarely do.  My tuba is sitting across from me.  Yes, I should practice - we have two concerts this coming weekend - and I should polish my part - but it is easier to get online and play sudoku and work on my German language skills.  Maybe those are part of my self-care routine!!

I know I need to take care of myself - and I don’t always follow my own care!!

*****

MENTAL SELF-CARE

“Mental self-care involves your psychological and cognitive thinking and your mind’s ability to understand and process information and experience. Not only do mental self-care practices help to stimulate the mind and improve brain functionality but they also help you to develop a growth mindset. A proper and healthy mindset helps us process information more easily and in a non-distorted manner.”

If anything, I think I do a good job at mental self-care.  The article suggests these activities:

●     Learning a new skill or language (Yup - 2.3 years of daily German_

●     Setting big intentional goals or mini-personal ones (yes)

●     Reading self-help or personal growth books

●     Journaling (this blog is a form of journaling)

●     Practicing gratitude - I quote 1 Thessalonians 5:18 - in everything give thanks

●     Doing a social media detox - I don’t do as much as I used to 

●     Engaging in a game of chess - I play some challenging Sudoku, crosswords, and other games

●     Practicing positive thinking - to me, the LOVE WINS philosophy is positive thinking.  I try not to hate (or dislike).  There is some good in all of us.

More on SELF-CARE tomorrow!!

LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS 

KAREN ANNE WHITE, © FEBRUARY 27, 2023