IMPLEMENTING SELF CARE
HOW MUCH? WHAT DO I DO? AND WHEN?
MANDATORY OR OPTIONAL?
When people do not sufficiently "take care" of themselves, it is due to misbeliefs and misvaluing of what is important. Busy people, from busy housewives to executives who think they must be tough and not take care of themselved to achievers chasing too much to have time for what is most important and valuable in life.
Self-care is mandatory for a good or great life. Those who hold it as an "optional" item to be pushed aside by urgencies are selling short themselves and their lives, giving into the devil of urgency and ignorance of what works in life.
MUST "COMPLETE" ITS IMPLEMENTATION!!!
Of course, that is "the concept", but then the question is "well, how do I do accomplish sufficient self-care." The answer to "am I doing enough self care?" is always answered by having an ongoing feeling of happiness, satisfaction, and fulfillment (alternating between them at times) AND low or no anxiety, stress, and/or suffering. The "indicator", it seems, is already built into our physical/mind structure!
So, now we must choose the "what" and the "when" and put it into effect. And for that to be "in effect" we must schedule a time for it to happen (and not just hope for a miracle to leap in so that no focused time is required!!!).
To do this, I'll set up a "skeleton" of what might be done and then, from that, you can "flesh it out", so to speak, such that it fits you. People will, indeed, vary on their psychological and philosophical foundations and, as such, will need different amounts of self care. If you work on your psychological and philosophical foundations you will be doing the highest form of self care, one that is long term with repeated benefits.
The following, please remember, is just a skeleton that may or may not fit you: (Time is "rounded up" minutes, so that "1 min" could mean just 10 seconds or 40 seconds.)
Time Self-care item When
1 Lie in bed upon awakening, stretching like a cat
1 Lie in bed and reciting gratitudes and/or intentions for the day
Enjoy a few minutes of smiling and savoring life/"coffee", sitting outside.
This is what I intend for this day...
1+ Planning - what shall I do today to take care of myself...
3 Brief "meditation", just relaxing my mind/body
Some self enhancement, inspirational, gratitude reading book/thissite.
Napping/resting when tired or low energy At the time
Energizing myself as needed (include standing up every time block) Over the day
Walking with a loved one Often; schedule!
Time with a true friend supportive of your happiness
Anything else that is "nurturing" and gets you in touch with yourself &
what is of value
Other optional items, often brought up by installing reminders on one's computer or phone:
__ My 3-6 words of who I am. ("I am compassionate, caring, strong, self-caring...")
__ My reminder of my highest values. ("I assure that I have taken care of my emotional and physical well-being!")
__ My statement for the life I will live. ("I absolutely will live a happy life. I will make it happen!")
NOW, WHAT TO DO
"Err" on the generous side, allowing oneself to "saunter", instead of hurrying through, the self-care time. (Hurrying is the opposite of self care.) Consider setting aside a full half hour, as being valuable to one's well-being and being generous with oneself.
After you've implemented the reference system and scheduling of these, put the list of what you've decided in front of you every day and just follow it, perhaps revising it over time as needed. (You might find it useful to put this sheet behind a tab in your Reminders Notebook that is labeled "Self-Care List", or something like that.)
Keep a copy in your Reminders Notebook of each of the linked pages or other reference pages that you might wish to use in your self-care time.
