Self-Care - A Part Of The Mind/Body Solution As we continue to discuss the mind and body connection today it is important to talk about self-care as the solution for your best life. Yesterday we shared our ideas on Mindful Eating - How To Help You Engage Mind and Body (https://bit.ly/3papZ8P ) Have you heard it said that self-care is the new buzzword? It is important that we learn not to wear yourself into the ground in the name of busy-ness and more valuable to stop the madness and pay attention to your physical and mental health needs. Here’s the thing… Self-care is more than a buzzword. It’s what stands between our mind and our body being truly connected. Self-care is part of the solution, not the problem. Self-care isn’t selfishness; it’s vital to our health. Consider this quote - “You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” - Buddha Knowing what your mind and your body need to stay connected, refreshed, and recharged helps keep the mind and body connection strong. Being able to plug into what you need each day to maximize your strength, your happiness, your joy and your wellbeing makes it possible to withstand the inevitable setbacks with grace and ease. Self-care doesn’t mean what you think Self-care isn’t all about spa days and a pampered lifestyle. Self-care is knowing yourself well and being in tune with yourself so you can easily fill gaps between your mind and your body. Self-care includes things like…
Self-care isn’t about indulgences as much as it is about homing in on the right thing to fill the right need at the right time. Self-care isn’t always the same thing That means self-care looks different every day. Self-care could be spending quality time with someone you love rather than isolating. Self-care might mean enjoying an amazing home-cooked meal and a glass of red wine and it could mean taking a day off to recharge your over-stimulated mind. Learning to tune into what you need each day means you’ll get the refreshment your mind and body need to keep on being their best. You need to care for yourself every day Self-care isn’t a weekend or a vacation thing. It’s every day. Tapping into a self-care practice must be a daily activity. Your needs shift from day-to-day but the daily need to practice self-care will always be there. From establishing a sleep/wake routine to choosing healthy foods for your fuel, self-care is a bunch of practices and habits built in throughout the day. Create a self-care practice so you can easily tap into what you need when you need it. Some Ideas for Self-Care Keep a Journal An excellent way to start practicing self-care every day is to keep a journal. We have found that using a journal to be one of the best practices we developed for our self-care. This is something you can easily keep with you no matter where you are. Old school writing is a powerful way to connect mind and body, so a journal notebook and pen is highly recommended. With journaling, you can write in it whenever you feel the need to connect to yourself or just to talk about your day. It can be very cathartic for you. Have Alone Time Every Day Make sure you have at least a few minutes each day all to yourself. This can be a daily walk, a fun 15-minute dance party all alone in your room, or just 5 minutes in the morning before everyone else gets up while you enjoy your cup of coffee. It can seem so simple and minimal, but these little stretches of time where you are alone and just doing something for yourself can make all the difference. Get More Exercise Sometimes helping your physical health is also important, so don’t forget about exercise. Moving well is an important part of the mind and body connection. Plus, exercise is good for helping to relieve your stress and the endorphins you get from it can be tremendous for improving your move. You don’t need to go to the gym for an hour every day either. Something as simple as an afternoon walk or doing weightlifting in the morning before your shower is perfect. You can also take advantage of other activities that also include exercise, like taking your dogs for longer walks or taking the kids hiking over the weekend so everybody is exercising more. Getting out in nature is always a great form of self-care. What Getting Better Sleep Might Look Like What might a self-care practice look like for a sleep/wake routine? Consider setting the same time for bed each night. A good time to target to be in bed is 10:30 pm. If you must set an alarm for at least a half hour before to give enough time to wind down and to help create the habit of getting to bed at the same time each night. It is always best to sleep in a dark, cool room. Consider a sleep mask if the room is not dark enough. I have found wearing mask was a sleeping gamechanger for me. Allow yourself to get comfortable in bed and breathe. A few deep breaths allow you to connect mind and body to relax while getting ready for a good night’s sleep. Take a moment before you doze off to sleep to express gratitude. It is important to doze off to sleep or allow sleep to come over you rather than tell yourself you want to “fall” asleep. This saying is harsh, and the mind doesn’t want to fall. Self-care may sound like a unneeded thing but it’s not. Self-care is a necessary part of the mind and body connection. Caring for yourself and making sure your physical and emotional needs are supported should be as natural as the other healthy choices you make. Share a self-care practice that has been beneficial in the comments below Be sure to get in touch with us if we can help you. Subscribe to our newsletter here
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Wendy BottrellWe have outsourced our lifestyle for way too long! 
 
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