Care of Others begins with Care of Self
Have you heard of the oxygen mask theory?
The Theory In Practice...
Kora's Tips:
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Get a few minutes of fresh air – sometimes I sit at my desk and indulge myself in so much work, that when I’m finished or in the middle of some stressful stuff, I start to get warm and feel overwhelmed. I find that getting some fresh air helps cool and calm me down so I’ll go stand outside or sit by an open window for a few minutes.
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Do a “Spring Clean” - When I feel stressed and can’t focus or need something to move me from bed, I’ll get up and tidy what I feel needs to be tidied.
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Wash your face and Brush your teeth – this one might seem a little silly if it’s 4 pm because it’s something you do when you wake up and go to bed. I find this helps in the middle of the day when I’m feeling tired or too stressed. It’s like starting new and I’ll be able to think and do my work after a short break
The Theory In Practice...
Alyza's Tip is a Good Night's Sleep and how meditation may make this happen
Sometimes, the hardest part of the day is when you wake up and go to sleep. And sometimes, It’s the mind set you wake up to or go to sleep to, that determines your peace, your life and how much care, you give for yourself. I NEVER believed in mediation and I do not know much about it, I only thought you just sit in a very uncomfortable position in the middle of the afternoon, in a class, for hours. But when you are still awake in the middle of the night, and you are losing control over your thoughts and emotions, laying down and hearing someone else's voice, other than the voices in your head, peacefully for hours, might actually, turn out to be a good thing.
The Theory In Practice...
Tracey’s Self Care Ideas:
Journaling - “I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn.”
― Anne Frank
Finding just the right book can be as wonderfully “self-care” as when you open it and put pen to paper for the first time. For those who might wonder where to begin the end is a great place to start. I like to write a story that begins with “today is” (and I set a date in the future) … “Today is January 1, 2021 and looking back on the past year I can say with confidence the pat does not equal the future because I have done some amazing things” It gets my juices flowing!
Watching movie I have seen (many times before)
Many people find movies a great escape and I am no exception. I do find, if I am particularly feeling like I need some good and tender care a familiar meeting is just as comforting as a warm snuggly blanket. Especially a movie that has a good memory of past viewings! Some of my favorites Bridget Jones Diary, The Bucket List, The Ultimate Gift and Meet Me in St. Louis
Candles:
Scent is a powerful thing for me. I love coming home and smelling how wonderful my home smells as soon as I walk through the door. Candles can be so soothing; their scent, staring at the flame can be mesmerizing. And the best part is buying candles is not terribly expensive. You can indulge in buying candles without blowing most budgets. I have even done some fun things like eating breakfast by candle light. I am not terribly crafty but I would imagine making candles would be a wonderful extension of how much candles can contribute to self care.