Three self-care things you did today!

[ecomama]

We can do it BBers, we can do self-care.

Sleepy21 pointed out research that shows self-care REALLY helps!

Please share what you do for self-care so we can get inspiration, ideas and motivation to do it too.

Best wishes
EM

[ecomama]

Hey Not_Batman

Happy to expand one's vocabulary at any opportunity without any condescension intended.

Oh just take the darned Super Hero Badge! hahaha

You most certainly earned it wrestling with that mower!

EMxxxx

[golden82]

hi all,

Some great nature immersing self-care - I'm jealous lol .. wish I had some mountain lake to float in or some forest to bathe in - sounds divine. Enjoy! And as always, everyone encouraging everyone is so heart warming to read along.

I have held off posting - I was meant to get myself a pedicure this week. Everyday I put it off a day .. and whadda you know- my self loathing won out and I didn't allow myself to do it. Even with everyone's support here. So I don't know - I am my own worst enemy really.

Anyway, this week has been a bit worse I think, But some little self care wins.

1) I am getting in the habit of opening at least one, sometimes more windows each day. This is nice - scary, but nice. I can see I will like this more and more as I get less fearful of the world.

2) Also, I got out my best bedlinen and quilt set that I bought years ago (8yrs omg) and never allowed myself to use. Well, I allowed myself and made my bed up on Monday 🙂

3) Also I bought some refreshing watermelon and some super yum pineapple this week (I had not allowed self to eat pineapple for maybe 7-8 yrs because of eating disorder 'rules' - stupid I know). Well the shop had sold out of the fruit I usually buy - I freaked out. It was just before close and I had to get something to substitute and so I was left with pineapple. So I guess good came out of bad. Forced to face a ludicrous 'rule'.

I hope everyone is well 🙂

[Guest_4643]

Thanks for the kind words and suggestions everyone, sorry I didn't see your replies until now. I guess different things work for different people.

I didn't really do much today, so I only have 1 self care thing:

• Got a haircut after like 2 years (my hair was nearly down to my bum, felt good to get it trimmed and I got her to braid it for me). Lovely people, atmosphere, and they do a great job and it's cheap but they do well. I waited ages because I had more important things on my mind and I'm not a big fan of haircuts most of the time (new people, new surroundings, the cape being too tight, hair in my eyes). But they put me at ease today and none of that made me anxious.

[ecomama]

Hey golden, those were AMAZING self-care things! GO YOU!

I'm really impressed. I love that you were 'confronted' with a challenge to your self imposed "rules", hopefully you can throw them in a DITCH lol... no room for them.
Don't worry I know exactly what you mean.

I guess we're all wrestling with our minds when it comes to self-care.... like ALWAYS.
I am anyhow.

Bit by bit, slowly slowly catchy monkey lol... I'm doing things JUST BECAUSE.
Just because I KNOW every tiny little thing I do for my self will improve my life.

How can we negotiate with your mind golden?
Maybe saying you've got a Voucher from the Self-care thread to use for a Pedicure?

I was thinking about something else re: finances too.... maybe being 1 week ahead in all things will give you the permission to spend on yourself?

Regardless of the stuff you didn't do.... I'm really proud of you that you did all those other things.

Hey Tay

That's a BIG one hey? I'd count that one as a major self-care thing.
I bet the plaits looked sweet!
WELL DONE YOU!

Mine for today:

* slept in lol, not sure if I like it but I did it.

* got super into the changing rooms stuff.... sweated my eye balls out lol.

* dealt with a difficult set of calls & texts.

* went to the Dentist and when he carried on at me, I told him STRAIGHT to back off lol.
I also told him I heard him the first time because I have a brain lol... he didn't need to repeat himself over & over again. I put a deposit down for the next appointments BUT am getting a refund and going somewhere else. He was arrogant and really really pushy. Hate that.
My friend works at reception & after I told her a quick summary, said "Yeah they're all money money money here, really pushy".
Done with crappy ppl lol... I'm outta there.

* bought some takeaway for late lunch early dinner.

* listened to a funny but informative Podcast called "No such thing as a fish" whilst I got more changing rooms stuff done. On a deadline!

Hey everyone, it's REALLY important to simply go with your flow of what works for you. Sure get ideas from anywhere for self-care but no comparing ourselves to others.
MH isn't improved by doing that, yuck.

Bring it back to YOU, breathe and love your self.

Onwards and upwards everyone.

Love EM

[golden82]

Hi EM,

Thanks for the voucher idea lol - I will try that thinking for this week coming! Wow, another busy day for you, you are like an energizer bunny. But I agree with your logic re every tiny bit of self care helps towards improving our lives & to not compare ourselves to others - or even to ourselves I guess. I get annoyed at depressed at myself that I can't do what I used to. But I think I have to accept I am in a deep depression now and am doing my best that I can now. & also to be aware not everyday is the same. I had a really rotten day today with mood extra low - for no reason that I can think of, aside sleep deprived (more than usual). But for us to realise that we will have some better and some worse days and just do our best for ourselves each day 🙂 Yes, onwards and upwards for sure. Thanks for your consistent upbeat energy for us all 🙂

Well done Tay, you had heaps of wins there today with getting your hair done. Hopefully you can remember how it was okay and how it made you feel good and do it again soon. You deserve it 🙂

[Guest_4643]

Thanks EM & Golden, I appreciate the kind words. Nice self care things you all did too.

I guess I do have some self care of a night - put my wax melts on in my warmer in my bedroom, have a shower (I sweat A LOT so thats why), wash my face morning & night, walk daily (thats more of a physical thing for me because if I don't walk my body feels horrible), listen to music &/or watch videos, look at memes trying to make myself laugh, coming on these forums, playing Happy Colour on my iPad (a free colour by numbers app) or sometimes the Wordscapes Word Search app.

[smallwolf]

- listen to Van Halen. Bit different to what I normally listen to but a change is as good as a holiday.

- podcast by Brene Brown. I can learn al ot listening to her.

- puzzle time. A way to waste 15 min.

[Croix]

I exercised patience, something hard for me to do and took a deal of willpower

That patience paid off and the matter in hand was sorted without my rushing straight in, reinforcing this more moderate habit

Laughed with my wife, something we often do

[Clues_Of_Blue]

Hi all,

Golden, let's call the pedicure a work in progress, try not to beat yourself up over it. You have acknowledged this hasn't been a good week for you, and you have still had some self-care wins - very important ones, I think. Let's look at allowing yourself to use that lovely bed linen and eat pineapple as huge steps in the direction of allowing yourself to have a pedicure. Practicing giving yourself permission to have and eat and use things you enjoy is fantastic self-care.

Tayla, glad you got a haircut and it was a positive experience for you. That counts, very much so.

Welcome Clown of Mine and Croix (I hear you about patience, it's not my greatest strength either).

That's quite a list, EM, you've been busy.

Apologies if I've missed anyone. On to my self care:

- Evening wander in the wetlands.

- Put on some incense.

- Made green curry - not just because it's tasty but because it's good for my iron levels. Figured the pak choy would have some, turns out tofu and coconut milk are pretty good sources too, any wonder I crave Thai curries.

- Went out to lunch with some colleagues. Very rare event for me, it was pleasant.

Blue.

[ecomama]

Hey everyone, really busy thread!

WOW look at all that varied self-care, we're all BOOMING!

Hey golden, hugs. depression stinks. I think you're doing amazingly well, is there any thing a previous MH person has given you that helped?
Have you heard of the ABC Chart?
It's for behaviour but can also be used by US to write down our thoughts.
Perhaps that kind of chart may help... I know it helped me. I use it in my work with clients but when a psych told me to apply it to MY THOUGHTS... well it kind of blew me away.
You can Google it. See what you think. xxxx

Yah I'm an energizer Bunny lol!

Hey Tay, you've been holding out on us! LOOK AT THAT LIST omg, that's amazing self-care Tay and you do that kind of stuff every day?
WOW. That's GREAT self-care!

Hey smallwolf, branching out to Van Halen lol, awesome. LOVE Brene Brown... love her online stuff... alot easier to listen to than read the books she's written.
The more of her stuff I read, the more I know I have to learn lol...BUT it's ALL GOOD STUFF.

Hey Croix! HUGE welcome to the self-care thread!!
I find it difficult to believe you have a patience issue lol! You've had patience with me of Biblical proportions! lol!!! But if you say you do at times, then I'll believe you... lovely self-care things you listed. Thanks so much for joining us.

Blue, great self-care things today, as per usual lol... thankyou for your support of others, it's always so welcome. Hugs to the Puffballs.

My self-care today:

* had another sleep in but not much sleep, those darned mozzies. Still it was nice.

* ate well, nice cereal with fruit for brekky, a frozen meal for dinner - that's self-care for me!

* planned an outing in a few day's time with all the kids and grandkids, those who want to come, to a Carnival that comes here once a year.

* unpacked more bags of my clothing... (said in a voice like Lurch lol)... got so sick of it that I just had to get it done. Only 6 jumpers left to decide on. SO MANY garbage bags of stuff to give away.
Still not happy with the wardrobe organisation, since they're all broken in this room but using what I have atm.
Felt good about getting "Stage 1" BEHIND me.

* set up work clothing on portable rack for the next few months lol. Easy to grab!

* finished listening to a series while I worked.

* spent time in the garden with darling chicken, she liked it.

EMxxxx