“I need a day alone with nothing guiding me but my own internal wind.” Says one Reddit user who posts about how to have effective self care without the “Eat, Pray, Love,” dramatic stuff. Read about people’s creative ways to have self care for themselves with out the pretentious “go walk, go outside, have water.”
Let’s roll our eyes and get to the practical, good stuff here. “The key is to remove anyone else’s input and remove my own gripping at plans and expectations.” The problem is we look to others to give us self care and this can be destructive instead of instructive.
One user says to use your five senses when you get home. Buy a new candle scent, eat a strange fruit you’ve never tasted, have tea like mint or aromatic. It turns out the smell can be highly associated with memory. When you have a smell that relates to a positive experience, you’re more likely to feel better when that scent appears.
Cocoamilky says that when her life is a disarray, organize something you’ve been meaning to do. They say they have this feeling of accomplishment and more space for clear room and clear mind. They also mention the favorite here at self care blog “write it down.” It sounds so simple and obvious but even as you go about your day, you may have forgotten what you wanted to remember. Use Siri or Google to make the reminder or the voice recorder app on your phone. When you’re doing errands and running around town, stop for one second and look around, smell the air, breathe, and go about your day. You’ll find your perspective changes from down to around.
HonestThoreauAway says writing a daily gratitude journal no matter how small makes this person smile, laugh, and happy. If you don’t like drawing, try drawing or taking pictures. They also say weight lifting has helped this person feel invincible.
SgtCandy says that during the winter months, this person who has SAD on top of their depression, goes outside to take in the sun for at least half an hour and swears that they feel “TON better getting some fresh air.”
Belmagick says they take themselves out to brunch one a week and journal their thoughts while their eating their delicious eggs and avocado while drinking some over-priced coffee.
The top post comment by futurecrazycatlady says “I made changing my sheets a happy event thing. Each Monday I change my sheets and do a pamper evening thing, with a facemask, a ‘longgg’shower with a scrub, loads of lotion, a nice drink, maybe yoga. Then when I’m at the cleanest I’ll ever be, I’ll grab a fresh pair of pj’s and go to bed early to enjoy some shows in my little cocoon of perfect.”
For Dainty_B, they say talk to friends or family regularly even if you don’t want to, a quick text makes all the difference. Never forget your self worth, always remember, “to the world you are just a person but to some people, you are the world.”
AtlantisLuna who recommends college students not stay in their dorms but “find a local thing that happens regularly. Find karaoke place even if you don’t sing or drink, you’re guaranteed to run into someone you recognize from campus and on campus friends are a wonderful thing.
For my contribution, I’d say write a list of your self care activities down like the ones aforementioned. Then find a small box, add your favorite things like teas, candles, decorate with a favorite quote, then call the emergency self-care box. When you have a bad day or your friend does, send this to them. They’ll sincerely appreciate it.
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