Self-Care, a Project and Some Privacy.

It’s a bit crazy, but the reality is this different period of life for everyone.  Yup, some is easy to deal & controllable, but not all.  For sure, it is a different period of time & not your choice – but it is what we have been dealt to deal with. 

Honestly, I’ve read some great articles on how to deal with mental health in isolation.  I found these sources the best with relevant information.

👍 North Brisbane Psychologists, Brisbane.

👍 Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, Melbourne.

👍 Dr Eileen M Feliciano, NY.

👍 Jon Bailey, ex US Navy submariner.

Self-Care

Self-care looks different for everyone, no doubt about that!  Wherever you are, whatever you do – you will need to have a self-care kit.  I’ve been reading a lot of posts on this, but what I’ve noticed they all have in common is the senses, yup I’m talking touch, taste, sight, hearing, smell, even movement (AKA vestibular) & comforting pressure (that is proprioceptive).

What comforts you?  What calms you?  Have a think & incorporate it into your everyday, especially at the moment whilst the world is a bit topsy-turvy.  There is a lot of change happening, very fast & it is putting a lot of people off balance & causing feelings of anxiety & just being overwhelmed with the situation.

Some ideas for each sense:

👉 Touch

👉 Soft blankets

👉 Stuffed toys

👉 Snuggly pillows

👅 Taste

👅 Cup of tea

👅 A bowl of soup

👅 Fresh fruit

👀 Sight

👀 Pictures of holiday snaps

👀 Looking at the garden

👀 Watching a favourite movie

👂 Hearing

👂 Load up those favourite tunes

👂 Listening to the birds (I love hearing kookaburras)

👂 Kids laughing in the next yard

👃 Smell

👃 Put some essential oils in the burner, whatever you like floral, spicy, plain lavender or eucalyptus

👃 Bake a cake

👃 Fresh flowers from the garden

🏃‍♂️ Movement

🏃‍♂️ Sit on the kids swing set or a rocking chair

🏃‍♂️ Choose a playlist and shake that bootie

🏃‍♂️ Make up some bubble mix, to blow bubbles & chase them

🌈 Comforting pressure

🌈 A blanket over your knees

🌈 I find holding pens or paint brushes good, as I can control the pressure whilst I draw/paint

Privacy

Crazy times means people aren’t at their best.  You are in close contact, cooped up with people in close quarters & let’s face it, there is no time out or retreat.  You need to have a space where you can have privacy AKA your own little time out space.  Everyone is doing the best they can.  It may look like sitting outside with a book, you might be more a blanket fort type of person, or perhaps just retreating to your bedroom for a spell.  You may want to watch rubbish TV, do yoga or pray – don’t underestimate the value of alone time for you & those you are isolated with.

Projects

I read this is about finding something you can control & that sums it up perfectly.  It’s a great time to pick up old hobbies, do that big clean up in the garage, or read a series of books.  I have started a patchwork quilt.  Those jeans that no longer fit, the jeans that got the knee ripped out, the shorts that were jeans but you loved them too much….so my quilt will be a patchwork with denim in with various levels of fade happening & some old bandanas from fundraising projects.  

#Life101 #HolisticHealth #MentalHealth #StayAtHome #StaySafe #COVID19

#ConsciouslyNutritious