Self Care, We Count
As we all know, self-care is an important part of life that often is neglected due to the many demands on our time. It’s important that we take care of our loved ones, family and friends. Many of us find ourselves needing to care for aging parents and raising children. We are building our careers, furthering our education, caring for our homes, involved in our communities...it’s exhausting! It’s easy to understand why we can lose ourselves in the process of living but, it’s not good for our health and, eventually, we will pay a price for neglecting to make time for us. I understand this, I’ve been there and done that and, yes, I have had to make adjustments to my thinking and my behavior.
So, what can be done to avoid the inevitable health risks that come from self-neglect? I am sure you’ve all heard them before but, let’s take a look at some simple things we can change right now!
Stay hydrated - commit to drinking one more glass of water than you
are drinking now.
Move more - get up at least every hour and stretch, take a quick walk or
climb a flight of stairs.
Eat healthy - make sure you are enjoying fresh fruit and veggies everyday. Get some healthy protein and healthy fats incorporated into your daily meals and DON’T skip meals!
Set time aside to recharge - even if it’s ten minutes, be consistent, make a space where you can go and be alone, listen to quiet music, practice meditation, stretch, close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Insist on this time-no interruptions of any kind, if no one is dying, it can wait!
Sleep - the recommended amount of sleep needed varies a bit with age but, usually it’s around 8 hours a night. Commit to going to bed and getting up at the same times every day (yes, there will be times when circumstances prevent this from happening but, get back into a regular routine as soon as possible.)
These are just a few minor adjustments each one of us can make to care for ourselves. They are easy, non-disruptive and will not only make us feel better but, set a good example for others and make us happier, healthier and much more pleasant to be around!