Breaking down the Mental Illness stigma one post at a time
A lot can be said for the power of fresh air and sunshine. To start, the fresh air can help clear your mind and if you breathe purposefully (in through your nose, out through your mouth) you may even expel some of the toxins in your lungs.
Also, even a few minutes of sunshine each day, can provide your body with Vitamin D. A Vitamin D deficiency can lead to fatigue, bone, back and muscle pain, hair loss, and even depression. Remember though, not to get too much sunshine – avoid burning!
Lighting a favorite scented candle can uplift your mood, just by having the scent bring you back to a good memory. I personally like woodsy/earthy scents and find myself gravitating towards my favorite bayberry candles. A deep rich vanilla is another of my favorites. I also like the flicker of a candle flame. Like a campfire, just being able to focus and ‘zone out’ on the candle flame seems to relax me.
Lately, there has been a lot of buzz around essential oil diffusers. While they can be an expensive purchase at first, the benefits can out-weight the initial cost. There are a lot of blends of essential oils out there now, but just being able to use lavender to relax, eucalyptus to revive and neroli to pick up your mood, can work wonders. At a loss for what essential oils to use? Jump onto Pinterest and search for essential oils and the mood you want to create.
So whether you like the scent and flame of a candle or use a diffuser, grounding yourself in the scent that either produces can lead to a bit of self-care in an otherwise chaotic day.
This one admittedly can be a bit difficult if you’re not in the right mood to execute it – but it may just be what you need. Sit somewhere quiet, where you can reflect on all of the things that make you uniquely you. Next, jot a quick list of all of these things. Then take your list and formulate it into a love letter so that you can express to yourself the ways in which you are unique and loved for your talents and genuine character.
Once you’ve penned this letter, save it somewhere special so that it is available when you need a refresher of why you are uniquely you.
Oft-times, self-care means slowing down, being present in the moment and sharing your time with someone who is good for you. What better way to remind yourself of a good friendship, sisterhood or partnership, than to carve out some time in your weekly routine to meet up with one of your favorite people and have lunch? Give your busy life a few moments of self-care reinforcement, by meeting up with someone who loves and cares about you.
If you’re anything like me, even on my gloomier days, spending time with one of my favorite people brings out the good memories and laughter. If you’re not lucky enough to have your favorite people close to you – plan a ‘phone date’ and then call at that time and just enjoy their voice and the waves of friendship and love that come through the phone.
Getting a pedicure can be tricky if you live in an area with months of snow – but getting a manicure would be easy. This is one habit of self-care that I perform each month. I’m not a drinker or a smoker; I guess you could say that manicures are my vice. For roughly $1 per day, I can have nice looking hands and someone who will make me feel as if I’m important, for half an hour.
Being able to see the growth of my nails is also a perk, as I was a nail biter growing up and am still a cuticle biter. However, if I get a manicure each month – it helps reinforce that I want to stop biting my cuticles and have lovely fingers and nails instead.
If money is an issue (let’s be honest – it’s always an issue), then gather your nail polish bottles, and a close friend and paint each other’s nails. Log into Pinterest and search nail art – you’ll find lots of ideas to spice up your nail time! You may be surprised that the act of self-care and reaching out and spending time with someone both work to help you feel a bit better.
For this week’s Self-Care Saturday, I suggest you get creative. This idea runs the gamut, from paper crafts, music pieces, poetry or even interpretive dance. Heck, you could even get out clay and see what kind of creation you can make!
Being creative, for me, is a release of anxiety and I often surprise myself when I see the end result!
The important thing is to find your muse, listen to it and play along.
Food for thought: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/handiwork-how-busy-hands-can-alter-our-brain-chemistry/