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True self care is not soft baths and chocolate cake, it is making the
choice to build a life you don’t need to regularly escape from.
Ask for Help
One of the best things you can do for your self-care is to learn to identify when you’ve got too much on your plate and it’s time to call for backup.
Perhaps you need someone to watch your kids for a day. Exchange ‘day care’ days with a friend who might also need some ‘me time’.
Maybe you need an extra 15 min in the morning to meditate or workout, ask your partner to help with the kids in the morning a few days a week.
Sometimes we find ourselves struggling with a task and we forget we have friends or family with certain talents and skills- like accounting, gardening, sewing! Reach out to the people around you if they have complimentary skills and you need some assistance.
Asking for help doesn’t make you weak, it shows that you know how to maintain a healthy-sized to-do list to keep yourself from getting run down.
Pause
You may have heard the expression We are human BE-ings not human DO-ings. Every hour of your say (except sleeping) does not have to be filled with activity – physical or mental. Its vitally important for your health to find moments throughout the day to be still, quiet, reflect and pause.
Steal some quiet time in the morning – while awake in bed before you jump into a flurry of activity. Go for a walking meditation at lunch time, or head up to bed 30 minutes earlier than usual for some alone time- to reflect on your day and wind down for the evening. Your mind, body and soul will thank you for these precious moments of silence.
Say No
I see so many people saying “yes” when they really want to say “no”. We are socializing to be nice and get along, but somewhere along the line it may become pretentious. Saying Yes when you should say No will cause you unnecessary stress and inner turmoil.
Its OK to say ‘no’ to things you really do not have time for; its ok to say ‘no’ when you don’t agree with someone else’s opinion; its Ok to say ‘no, I am too busy today”.
Saying no doesn’t mean you are being rude or selfish. In fact, saying NO, in my opinion, means you respect yourself enough to be honest with yourself and stand up for your beliefs.
So, remember to put yourself first once in a while; walk away from drama, tension and negativity (you have a choice) and set healthy boundaries – its all part of self-respect, self is and self-love.
Blog written by Dawn James, teacher and author hosting health and wellness retreats in Costa Rica. To learn more, go to https://bfitbwellretreats.com
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