Self-Care

Last week, I delivered a stress management webinar and shared some ideas for self-care.  Interestingly, every year in the United States – there are about 36 million hospital stays.  According to a Gallup survey data from adults in 122 countries, 41% of adults worldwide reported experiencing a lot of stress.  The U.S. reported 53% and Afghanistan was the highest at 68%.

Here are some self-care ideas:

• Journaling: Writing in a journal can help you express your feelings and process them instead of keeping them bottled up.

• Gratitude: Practicing gratitude can help you shift your perspective away from what’s lacking in your life and replace negative thought patterns with positive ones.

• Meditation: Meditation can help you calm your mind, reduce stress, and enhance your overall health.

• Taking a bath: Taking a longer shower or bath can help you feel pampered.

• Reading: Reading can help you relax and may even improve the quality of your sleep.

• Listening to music: Music can elevate your mood, reduce stress, and relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety.

• Affirmations: Affirmations can help you beat negative thinking and build up your positivity.

• Yoga: Yoga can strengthen both your body and mind.

Other self-care ideas include:

• Maintaining a regular physical exercise routine

• Choosing nutritious and balanced meals

• Getting 7–9 hours of good-quality sleep every night

• Staying updated on your health with regular medical check-ups

• Pursuing hobbies that ignite your passion and creativity

• Grounding (walking barefoot or lying on the ground) for at least 10 minutes

• Hug a furball to give your mood a boost

• Sign off social media or delete connections that are negative

• Eat a home cooked meal

• Phone a friend

• Get outside

• Invest time to relax

What else would you add to your list?  Today, I called my father’s former accountant, Tracey McBane.  She was such a tremendous help and positive light to me when I was the office manager of my dad’s periodontal practice.  She guided me through the financial reporting and helped build my confidence with the money side of running a practice.

I have not talked to her in 20 years.  What a joy to get caught up on family, goals, life, and work.  Call a friend from your present or past today that brings you joy.  You never know the impact it can have on someone’s life or your own.  Make a commitment to incorporate daily self care into your routine because you are important, you are a priority, you make a difference.  YOU GOT THIS!

Blessings,

Merikay