Page 19 - June 2019 Kwasind

FITNESS: SELF-CARE
Sheila Corneil
What is self-care? The dictionary definition is “the practice of taking an active role in protecting one’s own well-being and happiness, in particular during periods of stress.”
Self-care is an active choice, it doesn’t just happen. Self-care is planned and is something you hold yourself accountable to. In fact it should actually be something you look forward to or else it may simply add more stress to your life. The key to practicing regular self-care habits is to find activities that easily fit in with your life and your values. Self-care habits are things that energize you not deplete you. If you are struggling to pinpoint what these things are try making a list of things that deplete you. Things such as attending functions you do not enjoy, being with people that cause you stress, eating foods that leave you with physical or emotional discomfort, or activities that simply cause you to feel drained and uninspired. Once you have that list the arrow that points in the exact opposite direction is most likely the one that will lead you to actions of self-care.
Other ways in which you can practice self-care is to pay attention to the following categories of lifestyle habits:
• Nutrition – Become aware of foods that upset your stomach, cloud your mind, make you anxious or lethargic or simply take you out of touch with feelings of health and well-being.
• Sleep – Do everything in your power to improve your quality of sleep. Do not fight fatigue, it’s your bodies way of saying it’s time to sleep. Darken your room, reduce the temperature in your house, eliminate electronics from the bedroom, avoid eating before bed and minimize disturbances throughout the night.
• Exercise – Move beyond the narrow thinking that the gym is all that counts. It matters a lot but so does dancing in your living room, walking the dog, riding your bike or strolling through the neighborhood with a friend.
• Relaxation – Whatever brings you into the moment and out of your head, softening your body, calming your breath and connecting you to all that is good in your life is beneficial to your well-being.
Here are some additional tips for self-care:
Be In the Moment
Use all your senses to consciously take in everything around you, even for just one minute, a few times a day.
• Hear the bird singing in the distance.
• Smell the rain.
• Feel the soft fur of a pet.
• See every leaf on the tree instead of just the whole
tree.
• Take time to truly taste your food identifying the
spices used or the different blends of flavours incorporated.
Stay In Touch With Your Emotions
• Notice them.
• Acknowledge them.
• Express them.
• Journal them.
• Do not judge them – there is no “good” or “bad”. • Seek out laughter and allow tears.
Social Self-Care
• Be social but surround yourself with empowering people.
• Say no to events that drain you and that you do not enjoy.
• Smile at a stranger.
• Strike up a conversation with someone in line at the
grocery store.
• Compliment a co-worker. • Reach out to an old friend.
Know the difference between self-care and relief. Not everything that feels good in the moment is beneficial for ongoing health and well-being. Often these things can simply be tools or coping mechanisms that provide short term relief without any lasting effect. Self-care has long term benefits but relief is temporary.
The most common reason many cite for not practicing self-care is lack of time. But would you accept that excuse from a friend or family member you care deeply about? Should the value you see in self-care for your child or someone you love not apply to you as well? Self-care is about being as kind to yourself as you would be to others. So as we head into summer, typically a time of more leisure and less stringent schedules, my wish for you is to be able to practice more self-care. May you fill yourself up with more life-giving energy so you can have a bigger impact on the world around you. After all self-care is not selfish and for the benefit of you alone, it is a means to be able to give more without draining your own well dry.
KWASIND • JUNE 2019 19
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