International Self Care Day
We take care of a lot of things during the course of any given day: our jobs, our families, our pets, our homes, our vehicles…and the list goes on and on; a constant cycle that demands our attention daily. Unfortunately, “ourselves” often fall down towards the bottom of the list. It may even seem that taking care of ourselves is unnecessary or selfish, especially when there are diapers to change, bills to pay, deadlines to meet, and fires to put out.
July 24th is International Self Care Day. It is a day that brings awareness and encourages self care.
A good first step in achieving self care is taking a look at yourself and seeing just how well you are taking care of…YOU! The good news is it is relatively simple to achieve. Eating well, getting enough sleep, exercising, attending therapy, taking your medication, staying attuned to your mental wellness and knowing the value of downtime. Of course, what’s not easy is managing to find time for all of those things, and allowing them to take priority in your busy and overloaded schedule. But self care shouldn’t be another thing that stresses you out! Taking little steps towards a larger goal is a great way to get started.
Here are a few ways you might be able to take care of YOU:
- Wake up 30 minutes earlier each day to read, stretch, and/or meditate
- Take an electronics-free lunch break – BE SURE TO TAKE A LUNCH BREAK!
- Allow yourself 20 extra minutes during errands to go for a walk in a nearby park
- Choose one day each week to indulge in a favorite treat
- Start a journal to record events of the day. You may find you notice patterns in your moods or can recognize days or routines that are more stressful
- Instead of a shower, soak in the tub
- Let others take care of you. Even the kids can help by clearing their dinner dishes, folding laundry or taking out the trash
- Power Nap!
- Stay on top of your wellness visits. This includes annual physicals and routine dental cleaning and exams.
Looking for more ideas? Found something that works for you? We want to hear about it. Share your ideas, tricks and success stories with us on Facebook or Twitter. Your idea might be just what someone else is looking for!
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