Most of us give generously of our time and energy to family members, friends, and co-workers–and often ignore our own needs. It may not be until we become physically or mentally exhausted, or financially depleted, that we wake up and pay attention to our own needs. At that point we remember the wisdom of the flight attendant: Put on your oxygen mask first, and then you’ll be able to help others. Here are some tips that I have found helpful for self-care:
• Live in the present instead of thinking about the next hour, day or week. I am still a work-in-progress on this one.
• I take an hour each day for some form of exercise and try to mix it up so that I don’t become bored.
• If you feel sick or overly tired, stop and take care of yourself. The world is probably not going to stop spinning.
• I have recently started to do some gratitude meditation before I go to bed. I feel more positive when I wake up and seem to sleep exceptionally well.
• I am eating as ‘clean’ as I can as my diet really affects my mood. January is the perfect month to get this started again and clean out all the ‘bad’ you ate during the holidays.
• Forgiveness: I really try not to hold grudges and think about what it is like to walk in another’s moccasins and try not to take anything too personally as I have found in the past that it is usually not about me, but maybe what they are going through at that time.
Sometimes, it is just the best thing to do: Slow down and be compassionate toward yourself. “If mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!”