Self Care: You need it like air!
Why is it that we know that our car needs gas to run, but we believe that our mind, body and spirit can run on fumes for hundreds of miles? If you are feeling sluggish, exhausted, unproductive or off-center, chances are you have not taken time to care for yourself today. Some of us hold the belief that there is just no time for the "luxury" of tuning into yourself everyday. Nothing could be less true! Living a centered, grounded, well-balanced life is a decision that you are worth it and then making a few, simple, gradual changes to get there. If you can find 15 minutes a day to start, you can begin living a life that is a better fit for you today...not six months from now.
We often give too much of ourselves away, to our jobs, spouses, children or commitments, and then feel too guilty or selfish to take time to nurture and care for our own lives. This is a vicious cycle. We are not able to give to others fully if we are showing up as our frazzled, ungrounded or overloaded selves. If we are not whole, then we are only offering a watered down version of our true selves. Over time, this does produce results and relationships that are not true reflections of our capabilities or desires. One day we look around and wonder, how did it get to this point? One day at a time...and that is exactly how to get your life back!
So, how do you make the first step? Each person is unique so self care will likely look different for every person. Your needs may also change over time, there is no magic bullet here. I can offer some helpful tips and general guidelines for getting started.
A great way to begin to tune into what you need is to stop and breathe. One way to begin self care is to meditate. Before you interject a cliche of what you think meditation is, let me offer a brief description of what I mean. Sit in a quiet, private place, and just breathe. Our habit is to start thinking about something or just engage in "mind chatter". Resist the urge to bounce from thought to thought. A helpful technique is to focus on your breathing. Literally say to yourself, "I am now breathing in, I feel air filling my lungs. Now I am exhaling, letting the air release.". Breathing in this way allows you to get out of your head and into your body.
After you center youself through breath for a few minutes, you can now begin your self care. Some clients journal or read. Other clients choose to stretch or exersize, helping them connect the mind, body and spirit. How ever you decide to prepare for your day, you will feel a sense of pride and love for yourself knowing that you took a few extra minutes to "pay your self" first.