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

[sbella02]

Blue, glad to see you making so many strides with regards to your self-care. It's super important to have these small activities that bring us joy or peace, they can make such a difference in our lives.

My self-care activities for today:

1. Spent some time doing my makeup - I tend to view makeup as a means of creative expression, an artform if you will. I don't necessarily wear a lot of makeup but a nice winged eyeliner always makes me feel better. Taking pride in my appearance helps me feel more confident, I find.
2. Spent time talking with friends - chatting with friends is very therapeutic for me too.
3. Making use of my schedules and planners - it helps me feel like I'm organised and on top of things, even if I'm not. It also calms me down because I can make sense of exactly what I need to get done and by when.  

SB

[ecomama]

Hey Blue and sbella, thankyou for sharing your self-care activities. It's GREAT to read them, it's almost like a series of treats for me too! LOL! 

Blue, thank you for writing out that wonderful experience of walking in the wetlands with you both. Thankfully it is a flat area with LMs wheelchair! I know South Oz is really dry so it's super sweet this wetland area was constructed for wildlife and humans too. 
You don't live near the ocean?
When you said a Pelicans are an occasional treat...I knew they aren't a common site. I was actually reading your list of birds waiting for the Sea Hawks and pelicans.. 
Not sure if we have ALL those birds here but many rang bells. 
I once went to walk out my front door and saw a King Parrot at eye level right outside just staring back at me lol. He walked up the branch, talking away (probably swearing about not me not planting Sunflowers that year lol). 

Sbella, yeah I get that scheduling thing lol. I use my phone Diary A LOT, like multiple times a day. The MINUTE I open mail or get notice of a bill, I find the due date and write it in my phone Diary. THEN go 2 - 3 days ahead and put it in there, so it's paid just before. I'm a stickler for handing over ANY money early. Would starve before I'm late on a bill lol. 
THEN I go to my Pay Day which is on repeat and have my standard list there; Home Loan + regular payments on everything and ADD the Bill to that. With something VERY expensive eg $1500 bill, I go 6+ months before and put it in every pay note, so it's less each pay and not a BIG hit at once. 
Save that money against my Home Loan. If I'm all over it, I try to keep the money against my Home Loan and pay stuff out of my pays, always pushing! 

Love EMxxxx

[ecomama]

My 3 self-cares today:
~ prepped a yummy Congratulatory treat lol, fresh pineapple, blueberries and strawberries for my week's fruit for work this week. Blue said I should Congratulate myself so that's it Blue! LOL! 

~ spent some time in the garden after work. It's really my whoosh place... like letting out any build up of stress. I feel SO MUCH better after doing this lol even if I SEE all the things I need to do! 
~ told the kids they need to contribute more to the work outside. Not "help me", it's their home too! I hate nagging but I will remind them again with times to help too. 
Love EMxxxx

[ecomama]

My 3 self cares today: 
~ told a colleague about the troubles this week and she reinforced the rumour monger and told me what she said in a Meeting with Staff I don't go to! Her eye rolls about me and everything GRRR.... so my self-care around this is to begin the rational thinking plan about her wood worming peoples' credibility. 

So I will speak with our Union Rep - more rational thinking lol, 

~ ordered take away tonight, 
~ worked out a prepping for Party schedule. 
Love EMxxx

[ecomama]

Tons more intentional SELF CARE required this weekend after an especially triggering set of events this past 2 weeks. 

Today I: 
~ spent FUN time with my chickens moving tree stumps in their coop so they could scratch away, gosh they're gorgeous! 
~ will bake lots of goodies today to EAT and feed my family, 
~ will have a long hot bath with magnesium salts, my body is aching after a strenuous week working too hard lol. 
~ will make a hairdressing appt, it's time for a CHANGE.

Love EM

[Clues_Of_Blue]

Hi all,

Thanks, Sbella - very true, it's the little things that make life bearable. We are slowly getting a handle on how to get more of the good stuff in with my husband's health where it is now. Great work on your self care, too. Planners and stuff are super helpful for all the little things, my scattered ADHD brain would never keep up without them and all the notes I take.

No worries, EM - I hardly need an excuse to go on about birds, haha. I'm not super far from the ocean, but not right next to it either. About 45 mins drive for me with traffic to consider, somewhat less as the pelican flies I'd wager. No sea hawks around that I've noticed, though my bird ID is less good for birds of prey, they don't get close enough for my less than stellar long range vision to see properly. Your king parrot sounds really cool, they are beautiful birds. We don't get them here. The rainbow lorikeets were nice and close though, hanging upside down in their tree having a little chatter at us. Very cute. PS Great to see you doing your homework, haha! That congratulatory fresh fruit sounds delicious - as long as you enjoyed it, that counts. 🙂 PPS Excited to hear about your new hairdo!

My self cares:

1) Went out in the garden with the whole family, brought out a chair so LM could sit down, and brought Mr Feisty out in his travel cage. He was enjoying a preen in the sun.

2) Unpacked my new reading lamp and used it. I love it! First one I've had that has a light level low enough for my comfort when reading at night, they're usually like little suns! Gonna order another one as a back-up in case of mishap.

3) Asked BM if he could stick around with LM after D&D tomorrow so I can go see my brother. Haven't seen him in ages - by some miracle, he messaged me to ask if I wanted to do something.

Blue.

[ecomama]

Beautiful self-care Blue, so much about bonding and adjusting to your current situation. 
How did things go with your brother? 

Yes I admire sbella's self care including scheduling. Any thing that helps us manage our lives better can included of course. 
Any thing that makes an individual feel better is in included I'm sure. 

My self-care yesterday: 
~ gave when asked
~ cried when I needed to
~ ate good food.

Love EM

[ecomama]

Yes Blue! The lovely fresh fruit I bought as a Congratulations gift to myself was yummy! 
It wasn't just the act of thinking of myself as I shopped (which is a thing!) but setting aside time each night to prepare it, putting in the effort to intentionally do something for myself as well. 

My self-care today includes:
~ accepting help from family. Our aims are to build the new chicken coop for the less able chickens and move some heavy furniture. 
~ preparing and cooking a massive Sunday roast for us all, it's so rare we can get together. I appreciate this time to be together (unfortunately son's new gf can't make it today but will be here tonight, I bought a fancy cake and some decorations and gifts for her birthday which we'll do tonight), 
~ do more scheduling for my multiple sons' birthday party coming up. We've had convos about what needs to be ordered and the work to be done. It's going to be a FUN night! 

Love EM

[Clues_Of_Blue]

Hi all,

Thanks, EM. Definitely focused on bonding and adjusting. I'll expand on my day with my brother below. Super glad you enjoyed your fruit, and that it brought you into a place of thinking of yourself and not just others as you shopped and prepared it. That's progress!

My self cares:

1) Saw my brother yesterday. He suggested a forest walk - I asked if we could do the beach instead. First time I've been to the beach in a very long time. It wasn't exactly a warm day, but we took off our footwear and walked in the water. Then, well into our walk when we were quite a way from the car, the very low chance of rain that was forecast manifested in a quite soggy Blue! Fortunately we both saw the funny side and dried off in front of the heater back at his place.

2) Cooked a proper meal for the first time in ages with LM. And some muffins! Felt good.

3) Sun has come out today, am going to take LM for a walk to the wetlands.

Blue.

[ecomama]

Heya Blue, those are really nice self cares, maybe not so much getting soaked through but good for a laugh? 
Warming up again would've felt good lol. 
How did your walk in the wetlands go? 

My self-cares today: 
~ made lots of food for work today
~ bought sushi and nigiri for dinner - too tired to cook
~ will chill out, spend time relaxing tonight. 
Love EMxxxx