Do you feel like you’re running on empty? Are you caring for everyone else or working too hard that you have forgotten about yourself? If this sounds like you you’re not alone. Prioritising your own wellbeing with daily self care activities will allow you to develop resilience to better cope with life stressors. Just so you know, self care doesn’t have to take up hours of your day. You can actually practise self care while you’re going about your day. Here’s a few ideas to get you started:
- Enjoy a good cup of tea (or coffee). While making your cup of tea listen to the sounds of the kettle filling with water, the bubbling as the jug boils, the sound of the spoon hitting the sides of your cup while stirring. Watch the steam come out of the kettle, the colour of your tea as it brews, the change in colour as you add milk. Feel the coolness of the tap water, the warmth of the cup, the temperature you feel as you swallow your tea. What does your tea smell like? Notice the taste of your tea. You have just activated your senses which is a great grounding technique to help calm your mind.
- Sing in your car – loudly! Notice the beat of the music. Think of the song lyrics.
- Go for a 10 minute walk (or longer) and while walking activate the senses as you did while enjoying a cup of tea. Spend a couple of minutes on each of the senses – what you see, hear, smell, feel and taste.
- Just breathe……breathe in for the count of 4, hold for 5, breathe out for 6, and wait for the count of 3 before starting again. Repeat 3 times or until you feel calm. The way you breathe affects your whole body. Breathing exercises are a good way to relax, reduce tension and stress. The best part about breathing exercises is you can do them wherever and whenever you want.
Please don’t forget that the staff at CARE4MH are there to help you care for your mental health and physical wellbeing. Give the practice a call or make contact through the webpage if you would like to know more about how we can support you on your journey to better health.
