Self-Care Strategies (Part 2)
More Self-Care tips to support taking care of YOU:
Set boundaries: We often feel guilty for setting boundaries, but there is nothing selfish about taking care of yourself so you can show up well for others. “No,” is a complete sentence, and I can allow others the dignity of dealing with their own feelings about what I am and am not able to do. If I push further than I really want or need to, I do not get to be resentful of others since my boundaries are mine to set and hold. When I find I have given too much, it is a chance for me to learn more about my limits and to own and honor them, so I am less likely to put myself in that situation again.
Finish the circle: Because it can be far easier to recall the negative in my life, my mentor regularly reminds me to “Finish the circle” by also naming the good around me. This does not negate the things that feel or seem bad — that would be false positivity — but it also does not deny the good around me. If I feel so stressed that I cannot think of such things, I go through the alphabet and name something I’m grateful for that begins with each letter. By the time I get to X, Y, and Z, I am more relaxed and have a more balanced perspective about whatever I am facing.
More to follow…
Resource: 10 Self-Care Strategies for Professional Caregivers, Dr. Carla Cheatham, MA, MDiv, PhD, TRT
