Reclaim Your Powerful You! – Day 27
One of the most valuable concepts around basic self-care has been offered through various 12-Step programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, which encourages us to “HALT” when we start to feel stressed. Our human selves usually resort to self defeating behaviors (such as addictions, negative thinking, lethargy, and depression) when we get too Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired. Thus, paying attention to these fundamental vulnerabilities is a great place to begin a journey into self-care.
Try not to get too:
Hungry – Eat. Nibble on healthy snacks throughout the day. Be sure to pack a lunch, or think of when and where you will eat each of your meals – especially if you have dietary restrictions – on any given day. Also, remember to drink plenty of water.
Angry – Breathe. Take a deep breath and focus on your heart. Call a friend to vent. Contact your therapist. Go exercise. Make yourself laugh out loud, as if you are acting, until you can’t help but really laugh.
Lonely – Reach out. Contact someone who makes you feel good. Go to a group, meeting, class, church or even a public park to feed the ducks. Connect with your animal companions. Volunteer at an elderly home or other organization.
Tired – Make sleep a priority and be sure to get an adequate amount of sleep at night. Take cat naps. Don’t expect too much out of yourself if time is limited. Toss out the to-do list or delegate your tasks. Find quiet space to simply be and recollect yourself.
Basic self-care can start with merely tuning into your body and emotions then finding ways to meet your own fundamental needs. This is far from selfish; self-care refreshes and revitalizes you and allows you to be in a better space to interact with the world.
