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 J* organised? Wow I'll take it! Thanks LOL!

Let's add more from your inspiration J*...

Creativity - we know this can take ANY form at all.
J* is a star with screen printing, good one J*!!

Then we think things like "I'm not creative blah blah I couldn't do that blah blah" block those thoughts.

Ofcourse you could. But do you WANT to?

I don't want to screen print BUT I might like to draw something, colour in yay! Do a painting, I hear the paint by numbers is popular, I saw some sparkly ones in the shop yesterday, cooking, gardening, making something JUST FOR FUN!

Now there's a sweet eff word FUN!

Play. I like that word too.

I like to spend time CREATING MY FUTURE... thinking of things I want to do and see and have and BE. Hence my Dream Folder.

BF and I, oh he just called and told me what he just MADE! Hahaha gluing a cord for a tester of some type... engineers hmm.... BF and I are working on my cabin / bungalow plans, SO CREATIVE!

Love EM

[Guest_4643]

Hi everyone.

I'm not sure what to do for self care. I usually just buy things online (wax melts, like candles, they're cheaper & I have HEAPS lol. I find them relaxing smelling them even when they're not melted). And I usually buy skincare. I found a good range and my skin looks better than ever in my opinion but it's a bit pricey, worth it though.

Other than that I just go for walks daily, helps me physically but I'm not sure about mentally. Thats all i can think of.

[ecomama]

Hey Tay Tay

They're lovely self-care things you do! and smell lol.

You're welcome to read back and have a look at the other posts with their points of self-care.
Perhaps you'll find something in people's lists that SPARK joy or even curiosity?

Alternatively I Googled "Radical self-care" after a helpline Psych told me that's what I needed (supporting others with MH issues, being a single parent and also recovering from C-PTSD).

There were SO many things online to read about there. Really sweet ideas actually.

Love EM

[Jstar49]

Hi everyone,

Tayla thats a great start on self care.

I reckon caring for the physical is really important for the mental wellbeing The whole mind/body/spirit thing. I know that for me walking was a big part of my recovery. Endorphins, change of scenery, noticing the beautiful things along the way. Good on you!

I'm a bit sensitive to artificial fragrances, so I don't tend to like wax melts, but I LOVE my diffuser- essential oils. It's shown that smells are linked to our memories and unconscious. I know there's a certain scent I cannot have at all after a not healthy romantic entanglement! He used to burn ylangylang-spoiled it for me forever. 😞

Investing in skin care sounds great, especially now while you're young. I know I would have been better off if I had! Wrinkles are character aren't they?lol! I make my own moisturiser if you're ever interested.

Good point Em, creativity for the sake of it is really restful. My brain has a little holiday! I can only do it when I haven't got a queue of things to do. Or else i am able to ignore it! Thats what Sundays are for, in my book. A job free day!

Stiil printing so I'll get back to it

J*

[Guest_4643]

Hi Jstar. That's cool you make your own moisturiser!

Yeah my walking has been a habit for a few years, but I still get anxious when I see people and cars and I feel claustrophobic. The scenery is nice, it's a walking track with a lake and nice birds, I try to focus on that but my anxiety etc is still there. I used to just walk my Dog on my own and I still do that sometimes, not as much though, I usually walk with my Dad because I don't go anywhere by myself because of the stuff you hear in the news & whatnot. I'm 21, I should be going places on my own & even driving but I don't.

In terms of the self care, do you think a Psychiatrist or even a GP would have any idea of suggestions? I'll ask them when I see them again but that's not until mid Jan.

[Clues_Of_Blue]

Oh boy, it's busy in here. Hi to all. Just want to add another category:

Sensory input - This crosses over with others, but involves specifically engaging the senses, for instance smell with the wax melts or essential oils. For me it may be with cooking ingredients or nature (wattles in Spring, man, they're the best). Maybe wearing fabrics that feel good to touch, or working with art materials that look or feel or smell good (I love my colouring pencils, they engage so many senses).

Today's self care:

- Mini meditation before work. Need to do more of it, but it's a start.

- Kept consistent at work, did enough to be a competent pleb and no more.

- Doing only the minimum of jobs I had to after work (pack lunch for tomorrow, feed birds, feed me). Turned away from the dishes or any things I might have ideas of doing ahead. Reminded myself I do not have room for that when I have to be up at 4am.

- Had a rum and Coke or two after the jobs.

[Guest_4643]

I love wax melts & essential oils, Blues. I'm not a candle person so I prefer those.

[Guest_1643]

Hi Jstar - i've tried a few times to get into essential oils but i dont have a diffuser i like

i used the wooden one from kmart for a bit when i was staying with a relative - that was okay... i have one now but it's a whole production to get it going - so i just keep it in the cupboard sadly

i do have a lavendar mist spray which is fun sometimes to get a fresh scent of lavendar before bed. just got that one from the pharmacy

[Jstar49]

Hi Sleepy,

We keep one in T's bedroom, as she uses it if getting a cold, one next to H's side of bed- same reason- and then one for loungeroom area. It's been a nice re-set over Christmas. For that we have a respiratory blend, or eucylyptus and lemon are good.

Orange is great for a happier mood, some of the deeper scents like cedarwood or vetiver are grounding, and these work well together actually.

I love the oils, either in the bath or in the diffuser, or just a dab on my wrists before going out. Definitely helps me stay centred, or energised (rosemary!) or calm- love the lavender!

Did you know lavender is also antiseptic? We use it in hot water to bathe cuts and scratches, stops them getting infected.

🙂

J*

[Jstar49]

Hi Tayla,

That's great you walk regularly, just enjoy it, and let your senses absorb the sounds, and smells and textures. You could stop every now and then and touch a plant, or hug a tree, or crush a leaf and sniff it. Go all out! Be weird! It's the 'normals' who have no fun!

J*