Benefit of self-care and getting yourself on a better wellness track
As a life coach, my job is to help my clients improve their lives in a wide variety of ways. One area where all of my clients share a similarity is in the realm of self-care. “Self-Care” is a term that was coined more than 40 years ago and was initially used in the medical world as a way for patients to participate (under the care of a doctor) in their own healing process. Nowadays, it is referred to almost interchangeably with “wellness” and there are zillions of articles, books and podcasts devoted to promoting wellness in your life.
So what’s the benefit? Why do I care to care about myself, you may ask? Simple. If you’re burnt out, tired and resentful because you’ve been neglecting your own needs, you are not as able to perform to your peak potential, you’re less available to be there fully for your loved ones, and you are more likely to get run down and have health issues.
Are those examples enough to get you curious? Great!
When thinking about self-care, you may conjure up ideas of tropical vacations or a day in the spa. Although these experiences are certainly enjoyable, they are grand gestures of self-care and are definitely not the only ways that you can boost physical, emotional and mental well-being in your life.
Here are some simple tips on how you can improve your level of self-care and get yourself onto a better wellness track.
n Take a break! It’s easy to become immersed in what you’re doing at your 9-5. Have you ever looked up and noticed hours had gone by and you’d missed them? One simple way that you can improve your stress level at work and care for your mental and physical health is to take a break! If you’re going to the copier, take an extra five minutes to walk around a bit. Breathe deeply. Stretch when you get back to the cube. It feels great and allows your brain to rest for a moment, and that rest can bring you back to the task at hand with new eyes.
n Laughter is the best medicine! If you’re in the thick of it and at your wit’s end with driving the soccer bus, take a few minutes while you wait in the pickup line and watch a funny cat video. Look at a clip of stand-up or send a funny selfie to your bestie. Laughter releases endorphins and helps you snap out of the endless to-do list in your mind. If you can’t find anything funny to laugh at and you’re all alone, fake it until you make it. Fake a laugh for a few seconds. Do this several times and see if you start laughing naturally. I bet you will (even if it’s at yourself for feeling like a weirdo!).
n Write it down! I keep a journal. I write three pages of longhand every morning. I’ve done this for more than 20 years and I can wholeheartedly say that it has improved the quality of my life immensely. I write what is called a “no sin” journal. I give myself license to write whatever comes to mind regardless of grammar, interest or maturity level. This is a great way of letting off steam, sorting out anxiety, and letting your brain “drain” each day. It’s also a great boost for problem solving skills and creativity – I’ve had many great ideas after having written an entry of total drivel.
Have some fun! In the great hamster wheel of life it’s easy to get stuck in the machine and forget about fun. Give yourself the gift of something small like walking in the park with your dog, playing a game of twister with your spouse, or binge-watching cartoons from your childhood (hey, everybody has their thing!). Fun is often underrated by our busy minds – make sure you don’t write it off!
Well, Dear Reader, I hope I’ve inspired you to consider some self-care as part of your daily routine. Try these things and I think you’ll find yourself feeling more energized and content in your daily life. If so, I’d love to hear from you! Email me: laura@budtoblossom.net.
The Good Life runs on the second Sunday of the month. Laura Klain is a certified life coach and the owner of Bud to Blossom Life Design LLC, which is located at 92 Main St., Suite 104, Nashua. She has been helping people build better relationships, change careers, increase creativity and successfully navigate life’s curveballs for the last six years. You can learn more about her at: www.bud toblossom.net. and on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/BudtoBlossom/.