Tips For Self-Care

In this day and age of fast living, it can be hard to take care of ourselves. But it's important to find even a few moments here and there where you can do something good for yourself. I've written out a few suggestions -- take what works for you, and discard the rest.

• Take time for yourself.
  Having time and space to ourselves can help us feel refreshed. Even finding just five minutes where you can close your eyes and focus on yourself can help you feel better. But if you can set aside a larger chunk of time where you only focus on yourself and what you need to do, that's even better.
  
  
• Do something nice for your body.
  It's easy to ignore our bodies aches and pains, or to forget to take care of ourselves. But we live in our bodies. Try taking a bath with some bath salts, get a massage, ask someone for a hug, or just stand up and stretch.
  
  
• Find some comfort.
  We all need comfort sometimes, and it's good to recognize when we do and try to get what we need. You can call a friend, make yourself something warm to drink, wrap yourself up in a blanket, hold a pillow or teddy bear, write in your journal, eat a particular comfort food (whatever food makes you feel good), or find a smell that brings you particular comfort (some common smells are cinnamon, vanilla, lavender, baby powder, lilacs, bread being baked, and coffee brewing).
  
  
• Transport yourself into another world.
  We all need a break sometimes from the realities of our world. You can curl up with a good book, movie, or magazine, or just let your mind drift where it wants to go.
  
  
• Be playful or silly.
  Being playful and silly can bring out the kid in us, and help us feel more light-hearted. You can blow some soap bubbles, throw confetti around, make cookies, blow a dandelion puff and make a wish, watch the clouds and make up ideas of what they look like, hug your dog, rollerblade down the sidewalk, or swing on the swings.
  
  
• Take a mental health day.
  When you need to really take care of yourself and you're fed up with work, take a day off work, and then do whatever you heart wants to. Make the day all about things you want to do. A mental health day can help more than a week of Sataurdays.
  
  
• Take a walk in nature.
  Sometimes we forget to notice the world around us. Reconnecting with nature can help us feel more grounded and calm. You can go for a walk in a park, look at and feel the trees, really notice the sky, and breathe.
  
  
• Do something you've been wanting to for a long time.
  Is there something you keep putting off for when you have more time, or for a better time? Why not do it now?
  
  
  © Kali Munro, 2001