Self-care is not self-indulgence,
it is self-preservation”

To Listen CLICK HERE 

Self-care refers to actions and attitudes which contribute to well-being and personal health. It’s not only bubble baths and candles, but anything that helps you decompress.

Self-care is not something you can randomly go purchase at a store; it includes a variety of activities tailored for each one of us. True self-care is figuring out what resonates with you, honoring what your needs are and working on those needs within your boundaries.

When you Google Self-care tips you will see everything ranging from getting a massage, going on a walk, even masturbation. Yep! Check out this!

Google Self-Care Tips…

• Establish a morning routine
• Practice good hygiene
• Schedule days off
• Get outside
• Take a bubble bath
• Disconnect from technology
• The list goes on…..

When I was going through my divorce, I’m pretty sure I spent 48 hours straight one weekend Googling the different things I should be doing to take care of myself.

All the while I was neglecting some of the basic things I knew would be the most beneficial. Those common sense, everyday things that keep us going—you know, like breathing!

When you are going through shit in life, most of the time we move into survival mode. We need to just get by. Remembering to practice self-care during these times sounds as if it will be overwhelming.

Who wants to go on a 3-mile run then come home to cook a healthy dinner after they just spent the afternoon crying? Putting on comfy pants, a baggy t-shirt, ordering a pizza and pouring a glass of cabernet sounds a hell of a lot more inviting.

I have struggled with self-care, not only while I was going through my divorce, but also when other challenging transitions transpired in my life.

When I realized that the 7 things listed below didn’t have to be so daunting, I noticed I began consistently practicing self-care. That’s key—consistency.

You can find more information on each of these tips in my FREE E-Book that you can download on my website, but here is a sneak peak!

1. Breathe: I’m not talking about involuntary breathing here. I’m talking about pausing when you start to get overwhelmed (or even before) and just take a DEEP breath in through your nose and out through your mouth. I’m not saying you need to spend 30 minutes a day in deep mediation breathing, even just one deep breath gets that extra oxygen flowing in your body. You can do it anywhere and the best part, it’s FREE!

2. Exercise: Endorphins play a huge role in reducing stress and anxiety. What are some ways we get endorphins flowing in your body? Eating spicy food, sex and exercise. If hot peppers sound like they will hurt your stomach, skip them. Sex—well if you going through a divorce or breakup you probably aren’t getting much. So, that leaves us with exercise! I’m not suggesting that you need to go run a marathon or do something strenuous. I’m suggesting you start moving your body. Even start with a walk around the block. Exercise is great for you physically, but personally I believe there are even more mental benefits.

3. Eat a healthy Diet: When you are going through challenging times, comfort food does just that, comforts you. But if you have been eating like shit, you probably feel like shit. I’m not telling you to give up the pizza or to never eat fries again. I suggest you start with baby steps and instead of two donuts today, have 1. And drink some water PLEASE! If you aren’t a water drinker this can be challenging but water is soooo good for you! And if you have been crying you are dehydrated and need H2O. Start with 1 glass. Some tricks to help if you hate downing the H2O, use a squeeze of lemon or lime, try using an herbal tea bag to alter the flavor, or try a straw—I tend to drink more when I use a straw.   

4. Have a support network: Alone time is healing and needed, but isolating yourself from everyone is not healthy. Try to balance your alone time with connecting with positive people. Note that word positive. It can be difficult for some people to support those that are going through a challenging situation they can’t relate with. If you notice that you are more stressed by your connections, perhaps it’s time to eliminate that connection for now. You need to protect yourself and not add unnecessary stress by surrounding yourself with toxic relationships. For those relationships that are positive and uplifting, lean into those relationships.

5. Get Enough Sleep: When you are not getting enough sleep this affects your immune system, mental clarity and your metabolism slows down. But how do you get enough sleep when your mind is spinning and you are worried about what the future hold for you? If you can’t sleep, rest. Still go to bed and turn the TV off and put the phone away and take deep breaths and do you best to re-direct your thoughts. When the stressful thoughts enter your mind, replace them with a happy thought. I also recommend trying binaural beats. Binaural beat is an auditory illusion perceived when the bran hears two tone at slightly different frequency. I will say this worked for me sometimes, other times it didn’t. Adults need between 7-9 hours of sleep. You might not be able to achieve that right away, but at least rest.

6. Journal: This is worth trying, it will either work for you or it wont. There is controversy over journaling during challenging times in your life. Some people it’s healthy to get your thoughts out there. Others believe that journaling about the struggles keeps you stuck in the past rather than moving forward. But I honestly think it’s worth a shot to see how you feel. You will either love it, or not. And there are different ways you can journal: Grab a pen, pull out your laptop or even try hitting the recording on your phone for an audio journal.

7. Check out my Free E-Book to see Tip 7 and more details on all my other tips! CLICK HERE! 

These all are things we know we SHOULD be doing, but we don’t because they can be overwhelming when life gets hard. So, I suggest we approach them a little different.

Listen to your body, be kind with yourself and give yourself some freaking grace when you just don’t have the energy to be constantly working on self-care 24/7.

To state it as short and sweet as I can, self-care is you creating your recipe of taking care of yourself in a way that preserves and improves your own mental, physical, and spiritual health.

Visit my website to download my Free-E-Book!

Remember, You Got This! 

XOXO

If you would like to learn more about working with me, CLICK HERE.