I’ve become much more aware of the need for self-care of late. I’ve been trying to define what that means for me, adding strategies to my bucket for years now.
The non-negotiables (in no particular order):
- Flipping at the gym with my fellow geriatric gymnasts
- A reasonable amount of sleep
- Hydration
- Regular visits with the nutritionist
- Summer doctor checkups
- Quiet down time, which includes time to write
- Time with husband and teenage children
- Petting my dogs
- Moisturizer
The every-so oftens:
- Massage, facials and acupuncture (a new endeavor)
- Dinner out with the husband (should be non-negotiable, but I’m realistic)
- Catch-up dinners with old friends
- Nature walks when the weather is nice.
- Organizing out of control clutter
- Gardening in the spring and summer
- Aerial yoga
- Art Cafe visits
Though I feel like I’ve established a plethora of healthy self-care practices, I’m always looking for more things to add to my list. You can’t always do everything, but there’s always something you can choose. Life is hard. So many demands, so little space in the brain. If your brain and body aren’t in good form, you become less effective to the world around you.
In order to truly be strong, you must replenish yourself once in a while. It doesn’t matter what you choose, as long as it is truly your choice. Be mindful of what you need, then take the time to make that happen.
I hope you find some inspiration here, and if you feel like adding a little meditation to your bucket, I’ve created the podcast A Moment of Mindful Meditation for your listening pleasure. It’s my gift to you – let me know if it was helpful.
Stacey's Headspace 
I’m self caring at the moment by taking a week off work. This has involved naps, tears and navel gazing. Future me will probably be grateful I’ve taken this time. Present me thinks it’s self indulgent and wonders why I just can’t go on. Past me thinks it’s long overdue.
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Listen to the part of you that thinks it’s long overdue. If you are spending your time of with tears, the stress from the job is too much. Not sure what navel gazing is (please enlighten me) but it sounds like you’ve made the right decision to pause and reconnect with yourself. If you can’t indulge yourself one in a while, then why are we here? The work/life balance must be checked and maintained. Enjoy the week!!
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Navel gazing – ruminating or spending a lot of (sometimes way too much) time thinking about your thoughts, feelings or problems. It used to be a meditative term but in general use or the way I use it is more just self indulgent and frequently useless thinking about things.
I enjoyed the napping in my week! 😂
I’m enjoying your mindful meditation stuff, too.
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Lol thanks for the clarity. It was a new term of art for me. Glad you are enjoying the MM episodes. I was hopeful they’d be useful to people. Also glad you enjoyed the naps. There’s something about daytime naps that’s so lovely.
Hope your return to work is less “eventful” and more smooth.
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