50 Strategies for Self-Care
Earlier this week, I shared tips on hitting the reset button in the "new year". In that article, I stressed the importance of taking care of yourself. Scheduling in rest and relaxation is essential to a healthy, fulfilling life. Late nights, takeaway, and 80 hour weeks may "work" in the short term, but that pace is not sustainable. We all need to take time out to recharge our batteries to ensure career longevity. Quality rest is important to your mental and physical health.
Below are 50 of my favorite ways to unwind that don't involve a ton of technology.
Avoid Burnout: 4 Strategies to Help You Take Care of Yourself
I have a confession. I am not very good at taking care of myself. Like many people in helping professions, I love what I do so much that it's hard for me to take time off. I don’t want to step away from my desk at the end of the day. I want to keep making an impact. For some caregivers “time off” isn’t a reality. Moms don’t get a vacation from their role as Mom. Children caring for aging parents often find it hard to step away from their dependent parent. It’s tough to step away from our role as caregiver.
In the past, I believed that I couldn’t take time off, or that I could keep going without rest. Many caregivers believe that it is selfish to step away from providing support to others to care for themselves. These are lies friends. Every time you get on a plane, the flight attendant gives you a crucial piece of safety advice: In the event of cabin depressurization, put on your own oxygen mask on before assisting others. Flight attendants know that you can’t help anyone if you aren’t functioning at your full capacity. Believing the lie that you have to keep going and keep doing it all prevents you from functioning at your full capacity. You have less to give when you believe you can keep giving it all.
As a counselor, I have a professional role as a caregiver, but I think these tips could have a big impact on anyone who is supporting others.
Here are a few of my favorite strategies for filling up my oxygen tank.
Getting Grounded: 5 Simple Tasks You Can Do to Hit the Reset Button on Your Emotions
We've all been there. Your mind is racing from one thought to the next, from one task to the next. You can't stop thinking about something you wish you could stop thinking about. You can't forget something you desperately want to forget. Your mind is full to the brim and you just. need. space.
Here are a five really simple things you can do right now,or anytime really, to connect you back to the here and now.