Self-care is Health-care!

We live in an ever changing and adapting environment. We have information readily available at our fingertips – whenever, wherever we need it. Technology has thrust us into a new world where if you can think it, it can most likely be made possible.

A simple example of how fast we are changing and adapting is the mobile phone. It has been a mere 4 decades since the mobile phone was invented, yet we have gone from a ‘brick’ that had a maximum of 30 minutes talk time, which took 10 hours to charge, to a product where you are able to do your banking, play games, download books, maps and even electronically stalk your high school crush. This is progress, people, with a capital “P”!

However, the question is, are we as a human race keeping up with the demand we have created for ourselves?

Over the past few months I have been confronted with articles, blog posts, question platforms, and status updates all talking about the same thing: being TIRED! So it seems the answer to my question is “no”. We have the knowledge on how to use a cellphone that is able to run a hundred systems at once, but we do not know how to rest. We are unable to create a balance in this fast-paced world we live in.

In order to truly rest, we need to address all aspects of our being – not just the physical. We need to rest physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, socially, and practically (maintenance care that supports your wellbeing).

Liz from soul-warriors.com gave some great tips and practical things to do to help you rest:

Social self-care

• Write a thank-you note.
• Check out on social media and rather have same face-to-face time with a friend.
• Write a letter. This can be of gratitude to someone or it can just be a letter to yourself.
• Have a get together with friends and family and do something fun (play board games).
• Have a date night with your spouse. This is great to spend some time together and just check in.
• Call a loved one you have not seen in a while.
• Take a walk with a friend.
• Take regular small breaks throughout your day to prevent you from trying to do too much at once.

Emotional self-care

• Pack a sweet note in your lunch box or better yet asked a loved one to write you a note and you can do the same for them.
• Say “I love you” in the mirror.
• Make time for a friend, give them a call or go for lunch.
• Ask for positive feedback.
• Let yourself feel for 90 seconds. So often we want to suppress uncomfortable emotions, but by allowing yourself just to feel and experience the emotions (not trying to resolve the problem just feel) is a good way of building emotional tolerance.
• Write in a journal.
• Create art or engage in a hobby to express emotions.
• Spend time with a pet.
• Help someone in need. Giving back to your community is a great way to experience many positive emotions.

Physical self-care

• Drink water.
• Get up and stretch .
• Take a nap. Research has shown that a 20 minute cat nap can have many health properties, but be careful not to oversleep.
• Go for a walk around the block.
• Try a green smoothie (or any health snack, for that matter!) you may just like it.
• Give yourself a foot massage.
• Play your favourite song and dance.
• Eat lots of fruit.
• Take three deep breaths.
• Find a reason to laugh.

Practical self-care

• Designate a weekly grocery run time.
• Set up a weekly money check in.
• Create a master grocery list
• Designate a place for everything. When our environments become cluttered, our minds tend to feel cluttered, too.
• Embrace systems that make things easier whenever you can.
• Experiment with freezer meals.
• Learn about budgeting.
• Spend 15 minutes a day cleaning.
• Learn about investing.
• Develop a cleaning schedule.

Spiritual self-care

• Make time each day to focus on your spiritual life.
• Pray
• Read scripture and inspirational works.
• Take a walk in the park and mindfully observe nature.
• Eat lunch outside.
• Do a random act of kindness.

Mental self-care

• Play a quick game online to strengthen your cognitive abilities.
• Explore a new language with Duolingo.
• Take a screen break for an hour.
• Read an interesting article.
• Spend some time in silence.
• Try eating breakfast mindfully.
• Keep a Google document of all your ideas.
• Delete old e-mails you no longer need.
• Take a class.
• Make a ‘to-do list’ and cross things off as you finish with them.

Rest is not a passive thing, rest is an active process, therefore it is important to make more time for rest. Put off your computer for 10 minutes and take a break.