Self-Care in September Part 2 encourages us to look inward and make some changes in our life. They include having the courage to say ‘no’ without guilt, creating boundaries and removing negative people from our life.
Self-Care in September – Part 2
DAY 9 – SAY ‘NO’ WITHOUT GUILT.
Easier said than done isn’t it? However the freedom you feel when you can be in charge of your life and confident in accepting or declining invitations and requests is priceless. Live your life on your terms.
DAY 10 – ENJOY A QUIET CUP OF HERBAL TEA.
Take time out of your day today to just ‘be’ and enjoy a cup of herbal tea. Herbal tea can reduce stress and anxiety. Make it a celebration by using your good china (that is in the cupboard and never used). A few moments to breathe and enjoy.
DAY 11 – GET LOST IN A BOOK!
One of my favourite self-care tips is to take a few hours and lose myself in a book. This is when I truly relax. I lay down with a cuppa, step away from my world for a while and become engrossed in the story and characters. Do you have a special spot where you like to read? Are you a fiction or non-fiction reader?
DAY 12 – MAKE A SELF-CARE PLAYLIST.
Music can soothe the soul, it can be uplifting and make you want to dance or it can be melancholy. So many emotions can be affected by Music. Have you thought of making a Self-Care playlist? One that has all of your favourites for you to enjoy. I have an eclectic taste in music from Pink Floyd to ABBA. My playlist would have songs that make me feel happy and alive. What would be on your play list?
DAY 13 – SAY ‘GOODBYE’ TO NEGATIVE PEOPLE.
Self-care is about taking care of ourselves and not just indulging in some pamper time. Self-care is also about our mental well-being. We need to surround ourselves with supportive and loving friends and family and have the courage to say ‘goodbye’ to those who aren’t adding value to our lives. Negativity drags us down and who needs that?
DAY 14 – IMMERSE YOURSELF IN NATURE. ENJOY 15 MINUTES OF SUNSHINE.
Taking time to sit or walk in the sunshine lifts our spirits as well as providing us with Vitamin D which is essential for general health and strong bones. Immersing ourselves in nature going for bushwalks, gardening or just sitting in a park or garden helps us to relax, reduce stress & anxiety and improves our ‘mindfulness’. Take time today to enjoy some sunshine and nature – but don’t forget the sunscreen!
DAY 15 – CREATE & ENFORCE PERSONAL BOUNDARIES.
Lack of healthy boundaries can negatively affect all aspects of our lives. The consequences can be stress, financial burdens, wasted times and relationship issues. Creating personal boundaries set guidelines on how you want to be treated. They are a measure of self-esteem. Creating boundaries show others that you value yourself and aren’t prepared to be taken for granted. Remember the importance of saying ‘No’ – you have the power.
Have you heard of Hamman?
Hamman is a centuries-old, Turkish bathing experience used for cleanins and relaxation. Invaluable.com has created this helpful infograph which shows you step by step, How to Recreate the Essences of a Turkish Bath at Home.
Missed Part 1 of Self-Care in September? Catch up HERE
18 Comments
Hi, Sue – Once again, these are all very wise tips. Naively, I had assumed that being able to use the “no” word comfortably was not a skill that I would need in retirement. Was I ever wrong about that! I now often need this skill even more than I did when I was working! 🙂
A wonderful list, Sue! I attended a WW meeting this week and “NO” was the topic…when and how to say it as it relates to food. I have to agree with what Donna wrote, too! Food is a trigger for me to some degree and used as a catalyst for everything these days. I said no to a birthday party after church today because I didn’t want to eat the cake. That might sound callous, but I do not know the woman that well and it’s better I don’t go at all. Being out in nature is of course on the top of my list! Have a great week!
I love the list, Sue…but no bath for me, all we have here in NH is a shower!
I believe in the healing, restorative power of nature and sunshine and don’t feel right without it daily.
Shared to SM
I’m a little uncomfortable with the saying goodbye to negative people. Often they’re in desperate need of help themselves. I think if you’re strong enough, it’s our job to lift them out as best we can…and it’s all swings and roundabouts os our turn will come, sure enough.
Hi, Sue – I hope that your travels continue to go well. I have shared these sage tips on my Social Media. #MLSTL
I love that you post these because it’s such a great reminder to just take a few minutes for self care. It doesn’t even need to be that difficult! I try to follow along each day:)
Hi Sue, I’m glad that you have demonstrated that there are many ways to do self-care. I don’t like a lot of popular forms of self care such as yoga or massages. But I also know that healing properties of a nice cup of chai in the afternoon and an hour spent in the sun with a good book. You’ve also given me a few new ideas to think about- I think I would like to make a playlist!
Hi Sue more great prompts here. The difficult one for me would be no 2 say no without guilt. I do struggle with that. I haven’t heard of Hammam but it looks so interesting.
Another set of very wise and actionable tips. I loved the infographic about how to have a Turkish Bath at home 🙂 The healing properties of a good book are always welcome, it’s just finding time, especially as I tend to fall asleep if I read in bed! Got any great books to recommend? #MLSTL and Shared on SM
Well I can certainly tick a few of these – including saying “no”, getting rid of negative people, and creating some good boundaries. I’m in such a better place than I was this time last year – thank goodness!
Hope you’re enjoying that wonderful holiday and I’ve shared this on my SM x
Hi Sue. These are all such great self-care ideas! The things you mentioned that I can relate to the most are exercise, listening to my favorite tunes, journaling and reading a good book. The perfectionism, as we’ve talked about before is something I’m still working on. Removing negative people from my life, (in my case, family members) was done for me, but not by my choice. Now, I know I’m better off without them in my life, but still wish they could explain why they did what they did, so I could have some closure. Thanks for sharing, Sue. I always get a lot of benefit from your posts. Hope you are enjoying your trip.
Thanks for these practical and healthy reminders, Sue. I’ve never heard of a Hammam bath and it sounds so relaxing! Loved the infographic, too! For me, being outside about 30 minutes a day tops the list right now. Saying no without guilt can be tough but I’ve learned the benefits of doing so, and it really is important to self-care.
Oooh, thanks for sharing the infographic on how to simulate a Turkish Bath. I will need to try that. I don’t have heated floors, but living in Florida, all I need to do is turn off the A/C to get that effect (lol!)
Hi Sue, I am sure you’re enjoying your cruise. Many of your points resonated with me, and I regularly love a good cup of herbal tea and spending time out in fresh air. #MSTL
Hi Sue, it’s great to catch up with your self care posts and I’m sure you’re enjoying the holiday with Mike. #mlstl
Hi Sue, Wonderful tips in Part 2 of this fabulous Series. i poinned and reshared this post. Visiting at #MLSTL and wish you a lopvely day/
Hi Sue – It was very nice meeting you and Mike in Victoria. I hope your travels continue to be enjoyable. Thank you for sharing these good tips. I always enjoy a walk outdoors, especially on sunshiny days. #mlstl