The Self in Your "self"

I have come to believe that caring for myself is not self-indulgent, caring for myself is an act of survival. -Audre Lorde.

Selfcare can look like more sleep.

Reading a book can be another way of self-care. But if you use it to distract or isolate, not the right way for you.

Having a stress plan.

Finding your creativity. Another great way to care for yourself, whether it's painting, pottery, planting, doodling, writing, all creative outlets that help feed the soul.

Grounding. It's where you actually get your feet in the air on the earth for anywhere from one to five minutes a day.

Body movement. Now, this doesn't have to be exercise, so many people are so caught up in all I go here and I go there and I do this. Doesn't have to be that is part of your stress plan or part of your self-care. It can just be the intertwining of both. And it's got to be something that feels good to you and your body. It's not about pushing it. It's not about making it through that 60-minute class and then falling over for the rest of the afternoon.

It can be dancing, hiking, walking, running any facet of exercise. It's not about burning calories. It's about moving your body in an intentional way so that it feels nurtured.

And finally, laughter.

LAUGHTER increases heart and respiratory rates as well as oxygen consumption. LAUGHTER affects heart function, so it increases heart function, stroke volume, cardiac output. After intense laughter can increase in muscle tone, we've all felt that at one point or another in our lives, in our stomach muscles.

We know that laughter also feeds that part of the brain that wants that reward. It also that part of the brain is also active in any facet of addiction, not just food, but alcohol as well.

“As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.” – Maya Angelou