Clarity on Self-Care

Suggestions that people should engage in self-care are pervasive, but often lack attainable specifics.  If it can be explained, self-care often seems time consuming and maybe even expensive. Suggestions often include things like massages, manicures, yoga, and the like. You can find yourself feeling like you are failing at one more thing -- taking care of yourself. How can you fit one more thing into your busy life?

See if any of the 10 fast and free suggested actions could be effortlessly incorporated into your life

• Say “no” if you don’t want to do it.

• Go to sleep before you’re exhausted.

• Take a day off without guilt or explanation.

• Take a few cleansings breaths before any human interactions

• Give people clear and direct answers.

• Allow the person to get in front of you in traffic.

• Answer a negative thought with a positive thought repeated 3 times, even if you don’t believe it.

• Wake up 15 minutes earlier.

• Schedule and go to any needed doctor’s appointment.

• Within your control, limit your interaction with negative, stressful things or people.

Incorporate a few of the suggestions above that seem doable into your life this week and see if at week’s end you feel a little more like you took care of yourself.