Importance of Self Care

Hello all.

This month I want to chat about the importance of self care in our mental health management. We see it as a trivial thing and it always seems to be on the back burner. However, it is vital in recentering ourselves. We need to remind our brains of what it feels like to just 'be'. In this busy world we are go go go nonstop. Stress and anxiety are at an all time high in society. Mental illness stemming from this as well as physical illness is becoming more prevalent. Remember I am a naturopath as well as a counsellor and what we deal with in both industries is burn out. Burn out is physical as well as mental. The body becomes depleted and functions not like it used to. You get resentful, fatigued, angry, avoidant, critical and have impaired immunity in some cases.

Physically our stress hormones run rampant. Constantly stuck in fight or flight. Our sleep might be affected. Moods and ability to cope, resilience affected.

Self care is important to either avoid this or to treat it once in that phase.

Self care can be hard to obtain if you have a demanding and busy life. So I often say to people just start with a five minute cuppa at the end of the day, tea preferably herbal to reduce caffeine. Sit in the garden and listen to the insects, frogs, birds, trees. Smell the smells of the garden. Wriggle your shoe-less toes in the grass. Be present and let this moment tell your brain this is 'me' time. Nonnegotiable.

Increase on this. If at work, go to a green space nearby for lunch. Do ten minutes instead of five or two or three sets of five minutes and build on that.

Yoga, meditation, qui gong, tai chi, walking, dancing, swimming, watching TV, play with pets or kids, talk with a friend about gossip, anything that is 'other' than the daily grind. Sleep more. Sleep better. No blue light before bedtime. Go to bed early and get up with the sun. Eat healthy. Avoid stressful news on the TV, read a good book, take up a hobby.

We have forgotten how to just enjoy life and to actually be on the edge of boredom. Then we know our mind is resting. That we are decompressing and just 'being'.

So why don't you start the day off with something that will send the signal to your brain that you are not all about work, obligation and duty. That you are allowed to rest or have fun or both.

It is a nonnegotiable priority.

See you next month.

Lisa