Self-Care

Self-care is not self-indulgent. It is a sign of self-respect.

Here are 20 things you could do — no matter your situation — to fill your tank:

-Stay away from draining people as much as you can. Don’t let anyone emotionally take from you. You have the power to protect yourself.
-Don’t settle for counterfeit bucket-fillers like alcohol, drugs, pornography, romance novels or other things that make you feel good in the moment, but make you feel worse later on. Choose real, positive, long-term bucket-fillers.
-Start each day with some "me time." Even 20 minutes to exercise, read, meditate, pray or plan your day in peace and quiet will make a big difference.
-Get plenty of sleep.
-Eat healthy fruits and vegetables, and avoid packaged, chemical-laden foods.
-Exercise at least three times a week. Even 5-15 minutes of exercise is beneficial.
-Get outside in nature more often. Breathe the clean air. Unplug from all the electronics for a while every day.
-De-clutter some part of your house or office. Clean, organized space brings clear peaceful energy into your life.
-Simplify and drop some stuff. What are you doing that isn’t necessary? What are you doing that you could delegate? You may need to start saying no and setting some boundaries.
-Keep learning, growing, stretching and reading. Self-esteem soars when you are constantly working to become better and learning new things.
-Get a creative outlet or take up a hobby that allows you to create, write, build, dance or sing.
Serve others, perform random acts of kindness.
-Work on staying present in the now. Don’t waste today worrying about the past or the future you can’t change. ----Plan for tomorrow from a place of wisdom, not a place of fear or worry.
-Choose joy now. Happiness in this moment is a choice. Practice choosing it.
-Choose gratitude for everything that is right. Sometimes focusing on my blessings changes my whole attitude.
-Laugh more. Laughter really is the best medicine.
-Cuddle, hug, have more sex, get a massage — physical touch fills your tank.
-Take vacations as often as possible. You won’t believe how much more clarity you have at work when you come back. Even short weekend getaways make a big difference.
-Remember the real reason, meaning and purpose for challenges, trials and difficulties in life. Trust the universe that there will be a solution and you are going to be stronger, better, wiser and more loving at the end of this.
Parker Palmer: "Self-care is never a selfish act — it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer others. Anytime we can listen to true self and give the care it requires, we do it not only for ourselves, but for the many others whose lives we touch.”

Simplify and take more breaks: You cannot create happiness if your life is too full of stressful obligations. You need some quiet, down-time to relax, unwind and have fun. It must be a priority to make sure you get time for leisure activities.

If people in your life don’t get this, that is not your problem. Even if they are bothered. If they resent you for this, they probably need some self care too, but feel too guilty to take it.