Between shopping, cooking, travel, a packed calendar and heightened expectations (Insta-worthy turkey, anyone?), taking good care of ourselves during November and December can feel like another overwhelming task. When stress starts to pile up, keep Megan’s tips in mind to stay on track.
Q: What is self-care and why is it important? We hear the term self-care a lot these days, it seems it has taken the place of the "treat yourself" mentality of the recent past. Self-care doesn't have to mean setting aside several hours each month or spending lots of money at the spa. With a shift in perspective, we can practice self-care several times a day, with truly little time. Simply taking two minutes to be still, quiet, conscious of our breathing and being. This is self-care.
Q: How can we stay connected to ourselves and our health and wellness needs? Most of us are very busy, attending to the needs of others, working and running errands. We tend to keep ourselves busy all day, and then turn on the TV at night to unwind, not taking much time to really assess how we're feeling.
We move through life hurried, with a chaotic energy, especially around the holidays. How often do you find yourself looking at every task as a burden and a chore, rushing through meals standing up or while driving, using every spare minute to check Facebook or Instagram feeds and constantly seeking something to occupy your busy brain? A weekend at the spa will not make up for months of this sort of lifestyle. Our bodies were not meant to run in this constant state of "fight or flight" with our sympathetic nervous system permanently switched on. We need to learn to slow down and understand that slowing down does not mean accomplishing less. If we change our perspective, we can shift into a slower, but just as productive state.
The lens through which we view our daily activities can impact our health. We can accomplish all of our daily tasks with a calmer and more present mind. Perspective is the key. Incorporating gratitude into your day will without a doubt, change your life. Allow yourself some time each day to slow down. Relax about the small things and the things you have no control over. Try more actively to be thankful for the responsibilities that come along with taking care of your family, going to work, and maintaining your home.
1. Incorporate gratitude into each day.
2. Sit and enjoy at least two meals, slowly, daily.
3. Take a breath - Allow yourself to be exhausted even for just two minutes. During those two minutes, feel your tired body, mind, soul. Recognize that you are giving so much of yourself every day. Thank your body for being strong and allowing you to continue to do the things you need to do.
4. Take a social media/phone break - cut back or cut out the social media for a while. Enjoy time with your family/friends and be fully present.
5. Take a walk alone at least once a week.
Some of my favorite books regarding self-care can be found at Oshkosh Public Library.
The Power of Now
by Eckhart Tolle
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less
by Greg McKeown
The Gifts of Imperfection
by Brene Brown
Yoga is a great way to help learn to connect breath to body movement and consciousness. Yoga classes at the YMCA, Inner Sun Yoga, Embody Yoga, or Simply Yoga are sure to benefit any and everybody.
I know I said less social media, but if you're going to use it you should look for the Mind Body Lifestyle Facebook Group hosted by local counselor Jenny Shufelt.
The library also has a large collection of meditation audiobooks and music which can be very helpful for learning tools to quiet the mind. Learning to be still takes practice!
