Are you needing 9 tips for self- care?

We’re hearing a lot around self- care at the moment! It’s something we all need to be aware of and implement within our own lives. But with the corona virus pandemic going on, self- care should be our priority. At this and any time of our lives, self- care is important in maintaining our mental health and well- being. Put it this way, without caring for ourselves, how are we meant to care for others?? We can’t! If our physical or mental health is taking a dive, we won’t be able to care for others to the standard we want to.

Below, I’ve complied a list of suggestions of self- care.

1. Pray Before even getting out of bed in the morning. If time is an issue, set the alarm earlier, even if its just 10 minutes! God should always come 1st, before us, and before we can even begin to think of self care. We should submit our whole selves to Him, offering to Him every part of our lives. You might even be surprised at how your day turns out. Though not necessarily through the events but it can make a difference to our responses and resilience.
2. Meditate  Meditate on Gods word. Use scripture and verses. Prayer and meditation can aid connection and it turns our focus onto Him.                                                            How to meditate?                                                                                                                        #Eliminate distractions. #Get comfortable. #Use these scriptures and verses and repeat them over and over, keeping your mind focused on these. If your mind wanders, bring it gently back to the scripture/ verse your focusing on.
3. Be aware/ listen  Listen to what your body’s telling you; how are you feeling today? Is there anything you specifically need? For example; rest or needing to be uplifted.
4. Respond  Once you’ve recognized whats needed, DO IT! Take that bath, chill in the sun or play uplifting music.
5. Create a schedule  We can’t deny that life is full of responsibilities and things need doing, the best way to achieve these, whilst incorporating self- care into your life, is to make a schedule, this can help with getting other important things done and can also help in preventing procrastination.
6. Keep a diary This doesn’t have to be a chore or even done everyday. You don’t even have to write everything you do in it. But it can help to recognize your feelings and emotions and work out triggers and behaviors. This can help in improving your own emotional intelligence.
7. Exercise  This can be tricky, especially if time is an issue, or you have disabilities or illnesses that can impact on your ability to exercise. But there’s no denying that exercise is important for all of us. It helps to keep our hearts healthy, boosts immune system and the added bonus, it releases endorphins, which can help to improve mental health and well- being. So if your creating that schedule, fit in that time to get exercising. If time is limited, perhaps, take the stairs and not the lift, walk to the local shops instead of drive. park further away from your destination or get off a bus a stop earlier. Or if you have Neurocardiogenic Syncope (NCS) or other health issues, there are “floor workouts” on You tube that might be of use, when your having an OK day. Or you can have a look to see what exercises are most suited to your own circumstances and situations.
8. Goals Create goals for yourself, to achieve by the end of the day, week, month or even year, or all four! Make sure some are realistic and achievable. Then the bigger goals, break them into smaller ones in order to get to the bigger ones. For example: If your goal is to write a book. Break it down, set out a mind map to start, get the plan written out by a certain time, the 1st chapter, and so on.
9. Do something you enjoy A hobby maybe. Or for instance; reading, go for a walk, speak to friends or do something creative. Or start something new, like a class or a club, doing something you’ve always wanted to do. Perhaps, dancing, horse riding, or again, if your limited, find things you can do and enjoy doing, for me its writing.

These are a few things I learnt along the way. For instance, if I listened to what my body was saying yesterday, when I had a migraine, I wouldn’t have fainted when I got up! But we learn, as we go through the journey of life, how to develop our individual self routine and listen what our needs are as well as those of others.

Any other suggestions for self- care? Add them to the comments below.

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