Self-Care

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Self-Care *

Routine

Sleep Routine

Wake up and go to bed at the same time whenever possible. This helps set the tone for your day. You can get a sunrise clock if you struggle with getting up early and starting your day. I have one, and it's wonderful. It even has a white-noise feature. I have it in my office to help me start my day during those dark winter mornings.

Morning and Evening Self Check-In

When you wake up each morning, do a self-check-in to evaluate your mental feelings and physical feelings. Notice your emotions. Use the Meet It, Greet It, Transform It Technique if needed. Think about what you have planned for your day and if you're able to meet your goals. Think about your "spoons."

At the end of your day, take a few minutes to review your day and assess how you're feeling mentally and physically. If necessary, use the Meet It, Greet It, Transform It Technique. Then, wind down by doing something relaxing, like reading, listening to relaxing music, or using a sound machine. Remember to put a glass of water by your bedside!

Hydrate

As you're doing your self-check-in, grab that glass of water by your bedside and take a few sips.

Stretch

As you finish your glass of water, you can do some stretches. This can give you a boost of energy to start your day.

Skincare routine

A simple skincare routine can be effective, easy to stick to, and doesn't require a lot of products, money, or time. In the morning, you can use a gentle facial cleanser to wash your face and a lightweight moisturizer to keep your skin soft and prevent dryness. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, look for one that won't clog your pores. Finally, apply sunscreen. Easy peasy!

Intentions

Set your intentions for the day as you do your skincare routine or brush your teeth in the morning. Remember the KISS method (Keep It Simple, Silly). Some examples are:

  • My intention is to attend a meeting today.

  • My intention is to stay grounded today.

  • My intention is to walk in nature today.

Meals

While we can't always schedule what time we can take a break to eat, eat around the same time each day and make sure you're eating a healthy breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

If you're like me and enjoy snacking in between meals, try to find healthy snacks. Don't feel like you have to abstain from a sweet treat now and then; we just need to make sure we're not substituting one thing for another.

Celebrate Yourself

Celebrating our wins, big or small, keeps us motivated and engaged in the recovery and healing process. You can celebrate yourself with anything that can help remind you of your success. It doesn't have to break the bank. Some examples are charms, coins, stamps, key tags or keys, unique shells or rocks you find on a walk, special treats, etc. These items can also be used as anchors.

Self-Compassion and Self-Love

Recovery and healing are a process, and setbacks may happen. Instead of being hard on yourself, practice self-compassion. Speak to yourself with kindness and patience, just as you would to a friend going through the same thing.

The next time you're struggling, download The Self-Love Tips Worksheet and The Self Love Daily Journal to help you learn compassion and love for yourself. Then you can take the Self-care challenge!

Me Time

Giving yourself thirty minutes of "me time" a day is important. Some things you can try are time to crochet, a warm bath, puzzles, or whatever brings you joy. I understand sometimes we feel we don't have time in our hectic schedules, but if it means getting up a bit earlier or unplugging yourself from everything and everybody at night, I feel it's well worth it. I think you'll find it rewarding.

Get Moving

We always talk about how important it is to exercise, but if you're someone like me – no, not old! But for those with limited exercise abilities, you still need to find ways to be active. I love to walk on my treadmill, dance and sing (the Oculus was the best gift my husband ever got me!), and walk through nature whenever I can.

Make a Doctor's Appointment

Some people neglect their health when they're recovering and healing. So, if you need a physical and dental exam, now is the perfect time.

Take Time to Zone Out

Sometimes, we need to just not think about anything serious. That's how I ended up watching Housewives of almost every city. I wanted to zone out. Not everyone is into reality television (I don't blame you), but giving your mind a mental break is important as long as we're not doing it for too long.

You can watch something funny to help reset your mood. There's nothing like a great comedy to take your mind off the heavy things. Or you can watch something sad. I know that negates what I just said, but sometimes we just need to cry. If that's the case, watch something sad, allow yourself to cry, dust yourself off, and remind yourself how much you rock!

Boundaries, Boundaries, Boundaries

You know how much I love the topic of boundaries. This is probably because I was so misinformed about them. When I learned how to have proper boundaries and saw how much my life changed, sharing about them made me hopeful it would help someone.

Surround yourself with people who respect your recovery and healing journey. It's okay to limit contact with people who may trigger or challenge your sobriety and healing.

Practice saying no to situations or people who don't support your goals. Remember, "No" is a complete sentence. Setting boundaries is an essential act of self-care and will help keep you on track.

Treat Yourself

Have you ever seen that episode of Parks and Rec when Donna and Tom celebrate Treat Yo Self Day? It's October 13th if you haven't seen it, and according to them, it's the perfect day for clothes, fragrances, massages, and fine leather goods. Sure, it's a comedy from television, but they have a great point.

We all deserve to treat ourselves. When you feel anxiety building, it's a perfect opportunity to treat yourself. Here are some things you can do:

  • Buy yourself a small gift

  • Get a massage

  • See a movie

  • Get a mani/pedi

  • Buy a new book

  • Get a new plant

  • Take a nap

  • Give yourself a break from chores or cooking for a day. If you're responsible for dishes every night, leave them in the sink or delegate the task. No one will judge how well-kept your home is; if they do, they aren't true friends. Just be sure and be kind to yourself. You deserve it and don't think for a minute that you don't.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

 Sending everyone happy and healthy vibes,

Laura

(Side note: the website was recently updated. Please let me know if any of the links didn’t work.)