Blog

Five Tips Toward More Self-Care

These five tips toward more self-care will support your path toward fulfillment in your life. The photo of my son and mother laughing during a lunch out is just one example of self-care.

Five Tips Toward More Self-Care

1st Tip: Start Small

Pick one area of your life to focus on. Don’t get bogged down in complexity. Remember that success starts with one small step and consistency creates long lasting changes.

2nd Tip: Focus on Past Success

We are all better at some things than others. Perhaps meditation is difficult for you, but when you walk alone in nature, you feel refreshed. Taking a weekly walk might be better than working on meditation at the beginning.

3rd Tip: Know Yourself

For instance, I’m a morning person. Therefore, I’ll choose to try new forms of self-care in the morning when my energy is high and I’m most likely to be consistent. If you feel rushed in the morning, it might be easier for you to start a new self-care regimen in the afternoon or evening time.

4th Tip: Enlist Support

Just by telling a family member or friend that you are experimenting with new ways to take better care of yourself, you may feel more encouraged to forge ahead. Furthermore, you can include them in your practice of emotional self-care by telling them how much you appreciate them.

5th Tip: Schedule a Weekly Check-in

Once a week, create a recurring appointment where you celebrate your successes the past week. You can also identify areas that need support. I have my recurring appointment on Sunday.

A Real Life Example

Last week I wrote about my Saturday morning nature walk at Bok Tower. During my Sunday check-in, I saw how helpful it had been to my sleep and resting heart rate. As a result, it was easy to plan another nature walk at Bok Tower for the following week. Similarly, I checked out the Self-Care Wheel, created by Olga Phoenix for more ideas to consider.

The idea that resonated with me is, “watch a funny movie.” My husband and I were talking about how much we enjoy the old Mel Brooks classic movies. Which one would you choose?

Now It’s Your Turn

Using my five tips toward more self-care, I’d love to hear what you plan to do this week! Leave a comment below or email me. Better yet, signup for my newsletter and we can have a weekly conversation.

Keep Smiling,
Dawn

Self-Care is Crucial for Caregivers

I momentarily forgot that self-care is crucial for caregivers. I’m a caregiver to both my husband and my mother. Certainly, it is easy to get caught up in the needs of others, forgoing your own.

A Definition of Self-Care

One definition is any activity that nurtures and refuels you at a deep level. There are many areas of our lives where we can practice self-care. Often we think first of our physical body. Similarly you can practice self-care in other areas; your emotional and mental state, your relationship with yourself, relationships with others, spiritual beliefs and even work.

Some Examples of Self-Care

  • Getting enough quality sleep
  • Daily time outdoors
  • Massage
  • Crying
  • Laughter
  • Free Writing
  • Forgiveness
  • Nature Walks
  • Meditation and Prayer
  • Engaging the senses
  • Doing something important to you
  • Cooking
  • Goal Setting
  • Boundary Setting
  • Learning New Skills
  • Time with friends
  • Conversations
  • Time with children

Signs That I Needed More Self-Care

I wear a Fitbit, which tracks my sleep patterns and my resting heart rate. Most noteworthy was the dramatic increase in my resting heart rate from 67 to 74 in just eight days. While the resting heart rate was soaring, my quality of sleep rating plummeted to the 60’s.

My Method of Self-Care

It had been months since I had walked the paths of my favorite public garden Bok Tower Gardens . On the morning of that eight day of increased resting heart rate, I told my husband I was going to spend time walking before I performed errands for him and my mom.

I was benefiting multiple areas of my life in this one act of self-care. My physical body was experiencing time outdoors. Nature walks are a form of meditation for me, boosting my spiritual care. By engaging my senses during the walk, I lifted my relationship with myself. Finally, I had a chance encounter with a friend along the path and enjoyed a lovely conversation, adding the self-care of relationships with others.

Measurable Positive Results

In the five days since I went for my self-care walk, my resting heart rate dropped each day and is now at 68. My sleep score for the same five days now has an average of 80. I feel rested, calm, and was able to meet a writing deadline in addition to this blog.

A Challenge for You

Whether you take care of your family, your pets, or just yourself,  self-care is crucial. I challenge you to find at least one way you can do something just for you, something that makes you smile, that makes your heart sing. Life is short. Take care of yourself. Love yourself.

Love,
Dawn

Life After Life – a Book Review

Although I knew my friend Kim Moore had written a book about mediumship. I had not purchased it. That is not like me. I purchase books a lot. Then Kim placed an unusual birthday post on her business Facebook page . She was giving away three parts of herself; her book Life After Life, an Everything House Blessing Kit, and a 30-minute reading. All she asked was a Facebook comment with your preference.

Choosing is Sometimes Difficult

Imagine this scene. You love ice cream and the corner drugstore is giving away samples of vanilla, chocolate or strawberry. They say you can have them all, but you must start with just one. Now you have to make a decision. How many people listen to their intuition? Would you?

I checked into my intuition and realized I really wanted to read her book. Conversely, authors have a little agreement with each other. If you receive a free book from your author friend, you naturally buy one too. I felt a little guilty, but I put my preference for the book in my comment and then forgot about it.

Where’s the Review Already!

The full title, Life After Life: A Guide to Connecting with  Your Loved Ones in the Spirit World, tells you a lot about the content. Kim explains all about mediums, grief and loss, spirits and connections, and common signs from our loved ones in spirit. She also shares the dialogue from an actual session.

Not sure what to say when the loved one of a friend passes on? There is a section with guidance on what to say or not say to Them. And Kim’s personal experiences are sprinkled throughout.

My favorite quote from the book:

”By sharing my stories, I hope to leave people with the knowledge that their loved ones in the the spirit world are still with them. Always remember, love never dies.”

There is so much comfort in this book for anyone in grief. And I know from personal experience that Kim’s words are true for me.

Parting Message

The love Kim exhibits for all, resonates on the pages of Life After Life. If you are at all curious, invest in a copy on Kim’s Website.

Oh, and I received my first copy as the winner of Kim’s birthday giveaway. Thank you, Kim!

Peace and Love,
Dawn

Like this article? I invite you to sign-up for my newsletter and you won’t miss a post or announcement!