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

[Guest_1643]

Hi Not_Batman - I'm also one for a nap on the couch!

- bought a new mug for my tea/hot choc

- went to a support group, read the paper

- listened to some music in the car (Blinding Lights, The Weeknd, total mood-changer)

[ecomama]

Hello gorgeous self-caring peeps lol, I am LOVING your work wow... our NBN has been down for a few days so I got LOTS of housework and a bit of self-care in too! LOL...

Yesterday / today I:
* had TWO cool baths - a heatwave was smashing us! ugh.
* filed my nails
* went to a "dental spa" lol... I'm sure the name is supposed to reduce anxiety lol... whatevs
* drank LITRES of water
* bought the sweetest Christmassy jewellery - NICE!

Got a HUGE week this week, lots of things on day and night.

Hope everyone's travelling well!

LOVE EM

[Clues_Of_Blue]

Hey everyone, nice work respectively on self care and reaching out for those of you struggling with keeping up the self care. Not_Batman, nice that someone else knows Man Down. It's such a daft show, but I outright guffaw at some of the antics.

Today has been a tough day, self care has been a struggle. Only really managed one thing for myself, I made lamingtons.

[Guest_1643]

hey Blues I know those days where it is a struggle. That's beautiful that you made lamingtons. I haven't heard of Man Down myself - it is an English show maybe?
Sharing the struggle for self-care feels like a step for self-care. I have those days too. Thanks for sharing Blues

[Not_Batman]

Hey Blues.

Lamingtons...mmmmm nice one!

here to listen to you!

NotBatman

[ecomama]

Hey Blue, sorry to hear you've been feeling down, hugs!
When we're caring for someone else on top of ourselves, it's even MORE important to do self-care and we ALL need you, including all your beautiful birdies there.

Anyway I'd count lamingtons as FIFTEEN steps of self-care LOL!
I've only made them ONCE and woah... IDK if I could do it again lol.

Being kind to ourselves is also self-care.

Indeed we are always here to listen. More hugs.

My self-care today so far:
* pressing the snooze button lol
* making a nice cup of tea and sitting in my garden
* making lunches and cutting up fruit for today
* coming onto the forums.

Another trip to the dental spa after work.... I can hear the self-care talk already.

Love EM

[Clues_Of_Blue]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the kindness from all of you. EM, you're right - being a carer is definitely what's chipping into my self care at the moment. Of course I want to do all I can for my man, but it sure makes it a struggle to be there for myself. I was lined up to have just one day of doing my own thing this week and it didn't happen. The burn-out really hit me.

The lamingtons came out pretty well, a little crisp on top but the sponge inside was soft and moist, the icing just the right consistency. Pretty good considering I've never made them before. Messy process but kinda fun, too.

Sleepy, Man Down is indeed an English show - very low brow comedy, lots of swearing and general absurdity. Good for a bit of simple fun.

Today:

- Lamington for breakfast. No guilt!

- Unsuccessful, but tried once again to get an idea for my future off the ground. Sigh. I did try, gotta remember it counts.

- Sharing this stuff with you guys. It's become very clear I downplay my struggles a lot and often when it feels to me like I'm just about screaming "I'm not okay!", those around me just aren't reading it.

[ecomama]

Dear Blue, I feel like I know you so well already.

I know you're a strong independent person. You're unlikely to ask ANY ONE for help.

Remember that saying "no man is an island?" well it goes for women too!!

Pouring SO MUCH of yourself in to someone who's needed ongoing care, consideration and physical help is alot. Esp with the emotional overload of physical ill health he's suffering.

If there's ANY help available then I'd ask for it.
The BB helpline gave me LOTS of numbers to call and websites to read up on when I had a crisis period earlier this year over my estranged mother's conditions.
You can always phone a helpline.

On the other hand I've experienced so much frustration at crisis points in my life in just having to make relentless calls to ppl, so many to no avail at all.
This process is NOT easy either.

Taking a break and a breather from "life" ie pressing pause even if only for 15 mins can be a short recharge. These moments can help.

Thinking of you.
Love EM

[Clues_Of_Blue]

You've got me pegged, EM. I absolutely suck at asking for help. Partly because I would rather do things for myself, and partly because I have a long history (prior to my current relationship) of a whole lot of nothing happening on the rare occasions I have asked for help. The funny part is when I have received help it has inevitably been from someone on the sidelines who has grown tired of watching me try my butt off and get nowhere, it never has anything to do with asking for it.

As for numbers to call and websites to check out... I have been down that road through many a crisis and as a general rule come away from it feeling a lot worse than when I started. Honestly, Googling adjacent topics and removing direct human contact from the equation, whilst somewhat inadequate, has consistently proven the vastly superior option.

That said, my partner has been feeling well enough today to be able to do his own thing with minimal help from me. As a result, a bit of self care has actually happened.

- Accepted that it was okay not to have the birds out of their cages for the whole day, popped them to bed and got stuck into some housework.

- Went for a walk to the wetlands near home. Even jogged a little, which isn't exactly typical for me.

- Saving this space, might play a game or watch a thing soon.

[Guest_1643]

Hey Blues - i'm sending you cheers for that gorgeous wetlands walk.
And also I just like reading what you write and can often relate to a lot of what you say. I call 1800 Respect but this is quite new for me... before that I was quite freaked out by the whole concept and felt that I'd just feel sadder.
So I can understand that to some extent.
But one called last year saved my life and since then i'm into it a bit more - i like the helplines and like the generoisty of it. I found they actually cared more than my do-nothing therapist and they gave me the confidence to kick him to the curb 🙂 I hope you feel relaxed and enjoyed that beautiful jog/walk

- bought something I needed and chose the option I could have quickest - It's crucial for my health

- Stopped at an IGA and bought a juice to cool down from the heat

- Stood up for myself when someone in a shop was being pushy with me. I actually showed her she couldn't mess with me and I'm extremely proud