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

[Not_Batman]

What an interresting couple of days with self care.

Lets go back to a few days before christmas. Id almost finished work, ready for holidays. To start that off, i decided to mow the grass. Thats my top self care i think as its a couple of hours of vibration and white noise.

20 mins into cutting a drive belt snaps. Hmm no big deal, i can get a replacement the next day. So i got the replacement. To fit the belt i have to remove the clutch. So i did. That was an ordeal. Long story short, i broke the clutch, and had to special order a replacement..and that hurt the piggy bank.

well i had to wait 3 weeks for the part to be delivered as i missed out on dispatch by 1 day. So when i got it this week, i started to reassemble....and it turns out i bought the wrong size belts, and the clutch had a different rlectricl plug than my mower. So another day and another belt. And some time spent on changing the plug. Finally able to reassemble.

took a an hour of pushing, pulling, banging, twisting and turning, but it went back together.

covered head to toe with grease, dirt and sweat, i started that mower, and mowed for 1.5 of the most glorious relaxing, self caring hours. Everytime i went past the mulberry tree i grabbed a few for a snack.

it took a while and a few hurdles along the way but turned out alright in the end. Thats life i guess.

Not_ Batman

[Clues_Of_Blue]

Hi all,

J*, your swim sounds fantastic. EM, cheers for the shout-out for my thread, glad it's helping you. Not_Batman, what a saga with the mower! Mine isn't starting, I'm not game to look further into it, haha. Too hard basket for now, the whipper snipper will have to suffice.

Today's self-care:

- Took an impromptu break in the locker room at work (it's not like my work wasn't done). I was so tired and hungry I went to dig a snack out of my bag and realised I didn't want to eat in the staff room, I had hit a wall of sensory overload so stayed right where I was in the comparative quiet where no-one else was.

- Cappuccino after work. Sat outside, enjoyed the cool breeze.

- Forest walk. Nature restores me better than anything else.

- Ordered some pre-cut veggies when I did my grocery shopping. Not the most economical, but more economical than chucking veggies out because I'm too damn tired to chop them before they're off. Also doc found I'm a little low on iron, gotta get my green leafies!

[smallwolf]

back again...

- chatted with and old friend

- tim tam for afternoon tea

- wed morning service (work has been a bit stressful of late, so this was a nice distraction!)

[Guest_4643]

I really wish I could do more self care for myself. I feel like I have no motivation at all anymore, and no interests, even if I push myself. It's so hard.

[smallwolf]

Hey... some ideas for you.I know you said you are not motivated at the moment so here are some things you might try...

have a coffee at cafe by yourself, watch a movie, do some reading, listen to music, a walk, watch the world go by from your front step, lie on the grass, go to museum, email an old friend, call an old friend, say no to someone, buy some flowers, have a nap

if you are really stuck after that, here is a list my psych gave me...

https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/-/media/CCI/Mental-Health-Professionals/Depression/Depression---Inf...

some might be harder in the current environment. But even turning off your device for an hour can be self-care 🙂

[Not_Batman]

nice list Blues Clues. After a sensory overload, sometimes all we need is quiet. That forrest walk sounds lovely, what sort of plants and trees were there?

Hi Mb20! you will. Start small.

the list from smallwolf has loads of ideas. Pick one at random if you arent sure which one.

Thanks for that list smallwolf, it is really good.

Not_Batman

[Clues_Of_Blue]

Hi all,

Tayla, I hear you. "Start small" is good advice (and Smallwolf's list is pretty comprehensive). Just forgiving yourself for struggling with motivation is self-care. When I'm really low like that I get back to basics - making sure I eat and sleep and manage a bit of personal hygiene. EM would suggest nice bath/shower products to make that into a bit of a sensory experience, use a soap that smells nice, or a face cleanser that feels really good on your skin. For me even changing the lighting can help my state of mind, I have a lamp with little LED flowers on it that makes me feel good to look at so I'll turn that on. Hope that helps.

Thanks, Not_Batman. I didn't even realise the sensory overload until I stepped into that quiet locker room. I immediately concluded "I'm staying right here", haha. The forest walk was for the same reason, needed the peace and quiet. Where I go has mostly eucalypts and wattles - the latter of which smell heavenly when they flower. Summer has been pretty cool so far, so there are still some spring flowers I don't know the names of, including a few of the ones in my profile picture.

Last night and today:

- Listened to Gnarl (an Indian metal group, sadly only made one album). Guess I got over my sensory overload!

- Slept in.

- Refrained from diving straight in to doing jobs, snuggling with my birds instead.

- Getting a cortisone injection in my shoulder later. Not fun, but I have a history of not being on top of medical stuff (on account of poor time/energy for appointments), so this is significant. Hopefully will ease the pain, it's been bad for a long time.

Blue.

[clown_of_mine]

walked the dog twice in the wastelands because there is a fella fixing something on my roof

ate butter and berry jam on rye bread for lunch

went for a swim in the lake were I have a love hate relationship with the wild dolphins they are too cheeky

[ecomama]

Welcome clown of mine! We're so happy to have you join our merry bunch of self-carers!

Lol.... @ your relationship with the dolphins! Not sure if we'll ever see THAT one repeated here!
Loved that.

It's great seeing so much support... Tay Tay you already ARE doing self-care ie your face masks and your walks... just choosing ONE to try is great self-care.
Yep Blue's right about me lol.... lovely smelling stuff is my way to go. I got given some Fabric Fragrances for Christmas - yeah my kids know me too! and I spray some on my bed when I make it in the morning.

Thanks for that AWESOME list smallwolf wow... love it.

Crikeys Not_Batman what a palaver! UGH! What a guy! What patience you have!
I guess the Superhero lived to tell the story.

Blue's, J* and all... thankyou.

Today:

* I saw our Chiropractor, we all had adjustments and he gave me MORE advice about my aching feet lol... less gluten and less sugar... well waddayaknow right? My instincts were spot on.

* hired a Tree guy and he was FAN FAIRY TASTIC! So nice and just got on with it immediately after the quote in the blistering sun AND after a full day's work.
This relieves my poor mind from worrying about "Compliance" issues.
YAY! (Will clean up more tomorrow - we're having an AWESOME storm!)

* "dined out" with the kids for breakfast! It's so difficult to get us all together for a meal nowadays.

* probably THE MOST important and beautiful SC point of all... accepted a call from my eldest daughter... we had major issues almost 2 weeks ago and I was very concerned about it.
I offered to take her and my grandkids to a Carnival soon with all my children and she thought that was a wonderful idea.

Be kind to you.

Lots of love EMxxxx

[Not_Batman]

Thanks EM.

I dont know about super hero, but yes i lived to tell the tale. You know some people have sport cars, or fancy houses, or an old car that they drive on weekends...i have a 20 year old mower. That has had just about everything fixed on it, but im so glad it is fixed. I can now put on my driving gloves and scarf, and cruise along at 5km per hour.

i’ll be honest, i had to look up the meaning of palaver. Thats a new one for me.

Not_Batman