It's OK to Take Care of Yourself!
By Donna Stark
I am fairly confident that you have taken a math, history, and science class while in school and you may even have taken an art or business class as well, but did you ever have a class on self-care? If not, did your parents sit you down for "the talk" about how to reduce your stress and find inner peace? There aren't too many schools that mandate a Self-Care 101 course and more than likely, your parents sat you down for other important life discussions and skipped this specific topic, so when do the self-care lessons come into play in your life? Well, how about right now? This is important, so pay attention!
Self-Care 101
Self-care is an important factor in your overall health and well-being. At its most basic, it means to care for oneself. It encompasses every action you make from the moment you open your eyes in the morning to the minute you finally crawl back under the covers at night. It can range from a cup of tea to quiet your mind, to saying no to that extra weekend obligation, to making sure you keep all of your doctor appointments. It's what you need to do to slow down your world and put yourself first. It's about being your very own advocate.
So how do you start? Since the "rules" can vary from person to person you may need to try different things to find what works best for you, but here are a couple of suggestions that can get you moving in the right direction.
- Eat a clean diet - Add more color and whole foods to your plate, get more nutrients into your system, drink plenty of water, and cut out the harmful sugars and preservatives that aren't adding any benefit to your health.
- Exercise regularly - Join a gym, take daily walks, or find a fitness class you enjoy. No matter what it is, find a way to have fun while you get your sweat on.
- Eliminate toxic people and relationships from your life - Negative energy is draining and can bring unnecessary amounts of stress into your life. Don't be afraid of finding your joy by cutting the cancer out of your life.
- Be honest - Be true to what you want and to what is important in your life. Say "yes" when you want to, but more importantly, say "no" when you need to.
- Spend time in nature - Head outdoors for some fresh air! Go for a walk, hike, or just sit in the grass by the water. Find different shapes in the clouds or count the stars at night. No matter what you do, it's a great way to clear your mind and hit your reset button.
Getting an 'A' in Self-Care
No matter how hard you try, you can't effectively take care of anyone else if you don't take proper care of yourself first. So study hard and get that "A" in Self-Care 101!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Scottsdale, Ariz.