A new season is about to begin and for some, this might bring absolute joy and for others, you might catch a case of end of season blues. I consider this a nostalgic feeling as you remember all of the memories you had in the current season and a slight feeling of uncertainty of the next.
I think as we encounter and deal with these unprecedented times it is important to figure out what self-care practices we need to start practicing for our self and what works for us. I was watching a video the other day that stated if “the things that you do to celebrate joy and happiness are the same things you do to cope with sadness and grief then you have to make a change in something”
So I began to look into different types of self-care practices and what we could potentially learn to change some of our habits.
So here are different types of self-care practicing that you can start today… as told by me, Domonique.
Physical Self Care
For the first type of self-care practice that you can start using today is physical self-care. What that is, is a movement that increases your endorphins. the first thing that comes to mind is probably exercising. This is correct, however exercise for self-care purposes doesn’t have to be something strenuous or ridiculously hard. It can be something as simple as dancing in your living room or taking a walk around the park. As it gets colder the walking might not be as sustainable but doing 10-minute yoga flow on youtube or a quick workout from my workout videos can also be very helpful and get you to release any tension you may have had before. Some other physical self-care tips could be getting enough sleep or maybe even staying hydrating by drinking enough water for the day.
EXAMPLES
- 10-15 minute yoga flow
- Astoldbydom Workouts on Youtube
- Going for a walk
- Going for a Bike Ride
- At-home dance party
- Taking a nice hot shower
- Drinking enough water
- Getting Enough Sleep
Practical Self Care
For the second type of self-care practices that you can start using today, I would like to introduce practical self-care. This is probably something you do all the time and don’t even realize it. I do this a lot especially when I am stressed and need to just realize initial stressors. Practical self-care could be viewed as de-cluttering spaces organizing your life and immediate surrounding to reduce any future stress. I did this the other day, I cleaned my entire apartment and organized my closet. This was for no other reason than to release my current stressors. I must say it works. Another example of practicing self-care is making lists and creating budgets. For this one, it is all about how you exercise this form of self-care. I’ve found that creating a list and budgets can sometimes give me an even bigger headache than before hut other times it really helps me ground my current situation. I think if it is necessary for your situation go for it and create a list and budgets that can be utilized. If not you may just need to write and get your feelings out instead of making lists.
Examples:
- Organizing your closet
- Organizing your house or apartment
- Making a to-do list and doing some items on it
- Creating a budget
- Learning something that will get you closer to your goals.
Mental Self Care
My third type of self-care practice that you can start using today is mental self-care. This can be explained by doing things that relax but also stimulate your brain. Think of this as games you can play, reading your favorite books, or even going to an informational location such as a zoo or museum. I practice mental self-care a lot as well. My form is playing candy crush or solitaire on do not disturb mode. This is a fun way of stimulating my mind and passing some time especially as the levels get harder. I also enjoy listening to audiobooks laying down on my bed or in the car driving. This is especially great when you do not want to use your eyes anymore and enjoy the stillness and creative and imaginative nature of the brain.
Examples:
- Playing your favorite games
- Reading your favorite book
- Downloading an audiobook to listen to
- 5 minutes of doing absolutely nothing
- Go to the Zoo
- Go to a museum
These are just 3 types of self-care practices that you can utilize that have been tried tested and heavily utilized by myself when times get rough and I need a major mental break. As we move forward in our own self-discovery, It is important to figure out what works for you and what does not in whatever situation you may be in. I hope that this new season brings you joy and happiness and you take care of yourself to the best of your abilities.
Signing off,
Domonique
