I’m back with some more exciting lists lol, although these are a bit more interesting then the last ones.
I wrote two separate lists of activities and self care activities, some do overlap and that’s cool because we all do need to be doing self care everyday and I know its maybe an overused maybe wish washy expression but basic self care is having a shower, feeding yourself, sorting out a bill, doing some laundry all of that day to day boring adult stuff we all have to do is a form of self care. Self care isn’t all about extravagant spa days and buying yourself expensive gifts, its getting those most boring jobs done, because that is you looking after yourself and that’s what self care is about. You know changing the bedding may not feel like an exciting form of self care, but getting into that fresh bedding, feels so so good! The task itself sucks! but what you get from it is what makes you feel good.
I wrote down a list of activities and self care things as I’ve said before I’m quite a visual person so its good for me to have something written down. Also I find some days I don’t know what to do with myself and I find that so overwhelming that I end up doing nothing and feeling even more frustrated with myself, so having a list and a rough plan for the day give me that bit of structure and feels much less overwhelming, so its easier to decide what to do.
Here’s the Daily activities list
Walk the dogs
Blog – Try and write at least once a week
Listen to music and podcasts
Watch tv (I’ll often re-watch stuff I’ve seen a million times which helps ease my anxiety)
Have a day of total rest, do nothing at all and make a cosy resting spot
Online course (not found anything interesting yet)
On rainy days play inside with the dogs, bubbles, balloons, fetch and treat toys
Play on my PS4
Write/draw/doodle/colour/read
But don’t feel the need to fill EVERY second of every day, its ok to rest and relax and keep in contact with mind and body.
Here are my self care activities
Shower in the morning and evening if I feel like it
Make sure I get outside everyday for at least 30 mins no matter what the weather.
Take morning and evening meds and do my sinus rinse twice a day
Journal – Write every evening
Blog
Continue counselling (currently via video call)
Nap and rest – meditation and breathing exercises
Cut hair / bleach and dye it (I find cutting my hair and colouring it very theraputic)
Treat self to something I want
Don’t force myself to eat dinner or cook dinner. If I only want snacks for dinner or a takeaway that’s fine do it!
Do things that make me feel happy and good, don’t force myself to do anything especially if it doesn’t make me feel good.
Make a cosy place on the lounge floor lots of pillows and blankets (my inner child bloody loves this)
Or get comfy in bed and watch films on my laptop with snacks, pillows and candles
Don’t forget to reach out! Take time to message friends and interact on FB groups
Play with fidget toys (they help me to concentrate loads and just help me feel calmer)
Bake cakes/cookies or make bread
Don’t wait to long to take pain killers, take them when I need them, don’t wait till the pain is unbearable
Don’t force myself to be happy, let myself feel how I feel.
Keep on top of hospital appointments, blood tests and medications
Take a day where I don’t reply to notifications and try to not spend too much time just scrolling through social media. Try and do that once a week, just to shield myself from constant negative news
Feel tension in my body and chest, stop take and deep breaths and exhale slowly, do that a few times and slowly unclench my jaw, drop my shoulder and just sink into it the breath
When the evenings start t get darker earlier use the SAD light once a day to help with my mood during the winter months
Regularly wash face masks (I suck at remembering to so this lol)
Use weighted blanket when feeling anxious or just need some comfort
Take photographs and use clip on lenses
Hunt for mushrooms and other autumn things (my new interest)
Take a moment to stop and ask myself what I need in that moment.
That’s all I have written down and some may seem really obvious and simple but our lives and minds are often to busy that the simple things get forgotten.
The most important thing is to find joy in the things you do, even in the boring tasks.
Hopefully this list will be helpful and its something you can incorporate into your life to makes things run better, to maybe help you feel better. Obviously tweak, it change it and make it work for you, these are just my ideas and what’s been helpful to me, but won’t be helpful to everyone.
Peace out
Zak