Self Care

Most of us are running around taking care of a family or loved one or someone who is ill.
Sometimes we are so busy we forget to take a deep breath. Have you ever felt like this?
When you spend all you energy on others and leave none for yourself. By the end of the
week you are feeling drained and at the end of your wits. How do you replenish your
energy and pick yourself up? Some of us never quite do, we push on and forget about
ourselves. Then somewhere along the way we crash and burn. We ask ourselves how did
we get here?! The answer is to not let ourselves get to the crash and burn point. To be
aware and recognize when our energy levels are being depleted. To take action and heal
ourself before we are on empty. How do you rejuvenate yourself and restore your
energies?

Here are some self care guidelines that can set you back on track:

• Keep a routine
• Participate in normal activities
• Make sleep a priority
• Be physically active
• Eat healthy nutritious foods
• Get out in nature - walk/ hike
• Reduce caffeine and alcohol
• Turn to friends or family for support - do not isolate yourself
• Write. Keep a journal
• Nurture yourself
• Take time to be creative- listen to music, read a book, improve your living space
• Be spiritually engaged
• Relaxation techniques- counting breath, meditation, yoga
• Treat your body right
• Some healthy activities to do: go for a jog, stretch, cook/bake, plan a movie night, visit
a museum, write a letter to someone, draw, paint
• Listen to your body: if you are tired, nap. If you are energized use it in a positive way

If you are feeling low energy, then make adaptations to your self care plan, rather than
neglecting it all together. Meet yourself where you are. If you are feeling depressed or
overwhelmed - Reach out! I can’t say this enough.. Find a friend or a therapist or
someone in a support group that is going through what you are going through and talk it
out. You are never alone!

Positive Self Talk: This is such a powerful tool. You are listening to yourself, to that voice
in your head. The one that whispers to you about everything you do or say. Being able
to have a positive voice instead of a negative voice makes a huge difference. If you tell
yourself you can’t, you probably can’t; but if you tell yourself you CAN, you most
definitely will ! Insert positive mantras (mind tools); such as: “ I can do anything, I can do
everything” “This too shall pass…Im going to be OK” “ I am right where I am supposed to
be at this moment” . Develop your own uniqueness and formula to raise your spirits.
And don’t be so hard on yourself! Give yourself credit for all your accomplishments! You
are doing the best you can, and that’s all anyone can ask of you.

Remember you cannot take care of others, if you don’t take care of yourself first.