Is LIFE just too much right now? I know it is that way for so many of us today. Work, school, kids, volunteering, yards, homes, apartments, bills, family – the list goes on and on! And what falls out of our daily routine first? Taking care of ourselves of course. Isn’t this what happens to most of us? We “selflessly” give up our exercise time, our meditation time, reading time, play time or whatever “time” we’ve set aside for ourselves. We do this thinking that it’s ok because everything else is more important but it’s not.
Taking care of oneself is THE most important job we have. We cannot fully function for others, in any capacity, if we are not taking care of ourselves. The detriments of not caring for ourselves may not appear immediately, but rest assured, they will show up. Symptoms of lack of self-care come in many forms: sleeplessness, irritability, fatigue, lethargy, feelings of inadequacy, over/under eating and again the list goes on.
Fortunately, this does NOT have to happen to you! There are many ways to practice self-care that do not take a full hour out of your day. (If you have a full hour, by ALL means, take advantage!) I’ve broken this list of self-care activities into several different wellness categories; physical, emotional, social and spiritual. All of these activities can be done in 5 minutes or less.
Physical
-Ten push-ups. No. You do NOT have to drop to the ground and do 10 full body push-ups. How about leaning on a bench, or the stairs, or the counter!!
-Ten squats. Aren’t you just standing there in front of the microwave waiting or waiting for the water to heat up? Why not squat or lunge in place while waiting?
-Tricep dips – are you sitting down? Slide to the edge of your seat and do a few tricep dips. Certainly can’t hurt.
-Calf raises. You’re either standing or sitting when you’re awake (mostly) . Why not raise up on your toes and give those calves a wakeup call?
-Balance on one leg while washing dishes or brushing your teeth.
-SKIP! Why walk when you can skip? In addition to adding a bit more cardio to your day, it is simply fun!! You might think people will look at you and judge you. Secretly they are saying to themselves, “I wish that was me!”
Emotional
-Cry if your sad, angry or hurt. It is more than just ok. It is our body’s natural coping mechanism to handle a tough situation. If you suppress it, the difficult matters simply compound in your body.
-Laugh!! Tell a good joke. Listen to someone else’s jokes. Look at funny baby pictures. ANYTHING! Laughing is good for the soul.
-Smile! Isn’t this one of our Core Habits? Be a millionaire of smiles. It not only does you good, it is sometimes the best part of another person’s day.
-Communicate! Believe it or not, people are not mind readers. We all need to talk AND listen with our families, friends, co-workers and neighbors. Many misunderstandings can be avoided with simply talking.
Social
-Call a friend. Out of the blue, simply pick up the phone and call to say “hi.” Again, this may be the best moment of another persons’ day. Maybe your best moment too.
-Write a note. I know! This is SO old school. Do you remember the last time you received a hand written note in the mail? Remember how good you felt? It does not have to be a long letter, a simple “Hi. Thinking of you.” card will do nicely.
-Give a compliment to someone. “Gee I like that necklace you’re wearing.” “You sure have a happy dog.” “Isn’t it a beautiful day?” “Love seeing your smile.” Giving someone else a compliment is almost like getting one yourself.
-Perform a random act of kindness…Give a bouquet of flowers to a sick friend…or a stranger! Mow someone’s lawn, rake their leaves, shovel the snow from their walks. Doing something for other’s takes your mind off of your own troubles….if only for a bit.
Spiritual
Everyone’s idea of spirituality is different AND totally acceptable. These suggestions are for everyone and anyone!
– Take a moment of gratitude. Be grateful for what you have and say it out loud to yourself. So often we focus on what is wrong or missing in our lives. It does the soul good to just say thanks.
– Be silent. Turn off the sound, the lights, the hubbub of life for one minute. Rest in the peace of the still and silence. Breath deeply and simply exhale. Just BE.
-Believe. Give yourself permission to believe that all will be ok. Today may be REALLY hard and seemingly TOO much to take. Allow yourself to believe that tomorrow will be better. Giving yourself the permission to believe in a better tomorrow, sometimes makes it possible.
-Let go. Give up the endless task of worrying. You can take action if you choose. Or choose not to take action. Worrying is an unproductive and draining activity that many of us spend too much time perfecting. Let it go.
These suggestions are merely mine for you to take or leave. I hope that you’ve found something here that might make a tiny difference in at least one day of your busy lives. Best wishes to all of you for safe, healthy and happy summers.
Kelly
