Self Care

You do self care every day!

If you want to be healthy and happy, self care is a really important part of your routine. Washing, eating and sleeping are basic essentials to this routine, but not where it stops. It is easy when you are busy to become burnt out / fatigued or resentful (for example) by life. Having to chop, cook, clean, work, do the school run, commute, check emails, all the time, you may feel you need a break and get away from it all. What you may actually need to get away from is the way you are viewing the everyday ordinary.
Is it time to make it extra ordinary?

Is it time to make it extra ordinary?

When we are pushed for time, the very suggestion of making time can be another pressure. But if we make the ordinary extra ordinary, suddenly self care is a normal part of routine with very little effort, in fact, it may even invoke a sense of excitement.


So how do we do this? I will share a few thoughts with you to help you bring a little sparkle into your day 

Affirmations

If you are in a bad place, you may be conversing with your inner critic too much. Take a moment to flip that round. You can tell yourself some postitive aspects about the situation in the form of an affirmation. this affirmation you can repeat to yourself in the shower, whilst getting dressed, or any other tasks where your negative thoughts may start to creep in. You can repeat your affirmations either siliently to yourself, or perhaps ramp it up a bit and sing it out load so you can really hear it!.
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Presence

Do you remember the journey to work, do you remember brushing your hair, do you recall doing the dishes. May be you begrudge the time spent because it is an activity you have to do, or perhaps you feel you do not have enough time to do it. Supposing you flip that round. You need to do those tasks - so be present whilst you do them. Decide to enjoy the process, decide to make it nice. When you brush your hair, really take the time to note your hair, what it feels like and the condition of it. When you do the dishes, be aware of what the dishes look like and how it feels to get them clean. The presence of doing the dishes to just do the dishes will help you reset your mind and clear away negaitive thoughts making you feel more refreshed to tackle anything else you need to do.

Make it special

Is it a grudge to think about what to have for tea tonight? Shopping, prepping, cooking, clearing up then repeat. Suppose you choose to take joy from the process. Even the simplest food of a salad or a sandwich can be presented with decadence. Be present, breathe and enjoy the creation process, allow yourself to indulge your senses in looking at your food, tasting and smelling your meal and then sitting down in an enjoyable setting (so no books or electronic devices at the meal table!) and eating your food. Then converse (even with yourself) about your meal. See how that makes you feel. Once again, you have given your mind a rest and allowed your other senses some time to exercise their amazing powers.
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Special Lighting

Do you sit down in the evening, perhaps to indulge in a film or epsiode of your favourite drama, maybe read a book or journal or just to indulge in listening to your favourite music tacks? This is a time to bring in some beautiful ambient lighting. Perhaps light a candle or use an oil burner/ diffuser with your favourite essential oils in. Make that moment special, make a note in your mind of how the experience looks and feels, then do your activity. Make a point every now and again to absorb the atmosphere you have created, your senses will thank you for it.
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Do you have time to meditate?

If you do not have time to meditate, you really need to meditate, it is such a valuable part of your self care routine. Attending regular sessions, such as the classes I run, creates an accountability process, which many of us need in order to maintain self care. If attending a class is not your thing, pop an appointment with yourself into your diary or your phone so that you are reminded to sit down and breathe. Light a candle or use an ambient light (or diffuser) to help you focus, and follow your breath, breathing in slowly and deeply and breathing out slowly and deeply. Follow this pattern for as long as you feel able to, all the time, clearing your mind of any thoughts that pop up. How long can you manage? Build on that. It will come.
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Bath time

There are many other ways to indulge in self care, giving your mind and body time to rest and recharge, clear down and reset. Taking a candle lit bath, walking with family and friends/ dogs, spending time in nature, gardening, exercise classes- the list goes on!

I hope that some of the ideas I have shared today will help you to bring in a few moments into your routine throughout the day to receive more pleasure from the mundane and feel that every moment is a chance to be in a good place.

If you need any advice or support, please do get in touch for an appointment. Our Health is the most precious gift we can have.

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Book a meditation class with Dawn.

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