Self-Care ABCs

As a South African, I grew up in a culture where you worked hard and you took a lot of pride in your work. During my 20 year programming career I only took 3 days of sick-leave. Okay, except during 2017, obviously, when I ended up in hospital.

I always refused to take any sick days in the past when I felt poorly. I just pushed myself through it. I even felt guilty when I did take time off. If I knew then what I know now, I would never have done that. Because I realise now that I cannot do my job to the best of my ability if I am not looking after myself – physically, mentally and emotionally.

My “NEW” philosophy is to listen to my body. I pay a lot more attention to my body now and to the signs it’s giving me. I take time off when I feel exhausted and run-down. I rest when I feel sick. I catch-up with friends if I need to talk about my emotions and experiences. Self-care has become a priority for me!

I want to share this Self-Care ABCs list with you, which I am actually borrowing from another SAFM graduate. I saw this on FB the other day and thought it was pretty good. I really think that you can benefit from it too.

Self-Care ABCs

A – Aromatherapy/ Activity you enjoy/ Art/ Adult Colouring/ Affirmations/ Acupuncture
B – Bath (bubble or Epsom salt)/ Breathing/ Beach
C – Create something/ Candles/ Calming Thoughts/ Calm your mind
D – Dance/ Dry Brushing/ Declutter/ Diaphragmatic breathing
E – Exhale/ Expression/ Exercise
F – Family/ Friends
G – Gratitude Journaling/ Giggle/ Grounding
H – Hugs/ Hope/ Holiday/ Hobby/ Hydration
I – Intimacy/ Impact (doing for others)
J – Joy
K – Kind acts
L – Love/ Laughter/ Learn Something New/ Learn a musical instrument
M – Meal Time/ Meditation/ Massage/ Move/ Music/ Mirror Time/ Mindfulness/ Mindset Work/ Morning pages
N – Nature(Time in it)/ NO News/ Nostril Breathing
O – Optimism/ Organize/ Outdoors/ Oxygen
P – Pleasure/ Passion/ Pamper/ Play sports/ Play with kids or pets/ Pray/ Poetry
Q – Quiet Time
R – Rest/ Relaxation/ Read
S – Stress Reduction & Management/ Sun/ Share/ Singing/ Smile/ Socialize/ Spend time alone/ Swimming/ Surfing
T – Tea Time/ Travel/ Tranquillity/ Tongue scraping
U – Unplug from electronics
V – Vacation/ Volunteer/ Visualize
W – Wander/ Watch a favourite movie or show/ Walking
X – X (something you did in the past)/ Xtra (do more of what you love ) / Xenoestrogen detox 
Y – Yoga
Z – Zzzz’s get them/ Zen Meditation/ Zen Gardening

What resonates with you on this list? Do you have a self-care activity that is not on this list?

We are responsible for our own self-care. One thing I have learned over the years is that you cannot “pour” into others if you are running on empty. Take the time this week to think about your self-care routine. Be adventurous and pick something new from this list and try it out this week.

If you want to make a difference this year in the lives of those around you, then make self-care a priority! Prioritize your sleep. Prioritize exercise. Prioritize your relationships. Prioritize your well-being and healthy eating.

Trust me, you will feel the difference it makes in your own life, and you will also see the difference it makes in the lives of those around you.