Bite Size Pieces
Caring for another person is time consuming. An infant, a toddler, an aged relative, a friend recovering from surgery. Most of us have had such an experience and we know caregiving takes time, perhaps 24 hours, seven days a week. Or maybe just a few hours to sit with a child so that its parent can work or run errands. It could be a visit with an elderly relative or friend to provide a meal, do a bit of housekeeping or go for groceries. We do this gladly and with love and unrushed.
Recently I saw a book in Barnes & Noble titled Self Care. So now there’s a book. We didn’t need to read about how to care for another friend or family member. Surely, each of us knows how to care for ourselves. What we really need is a mindset that tells us how to find time in our busy days for self care.
“I just don’t have the time,” is the most common excuse I hear from persons who don’t stick with an exercise routine, never meditate, pass up a walk after dinner or many who avoid cooking a nutritious meal from scratch. “I just don’t have time.”
As you make time for others, I encourage you to make time for yourself.
Start simply.
Instead of jumping out of bed as if you’re already late, take five minutes to be grateful for another day, to breathe deeply, then slowly go to the window and do a few sun salutations.
I like to do a MELT foot treatment while brushing my teeth.
Some mornings, jot down a list of healthful foods and stick to it while shopping. Eating enough fruits and vegetables a day is only doable if you bring them home from the grocery store.
Plan a time to walk with a friend or alone, just so you listen for the birds or admire the flowers and trees or the sunset.
You’ll think of things that are common sense but that are really—Self Care.
A few minutes throughout the day, bite sized pieces that add up to a healthier, happier YOU.