As a nurse I have a lot of people asking me what my self-care looks like and who the heck actually has time for it. Honestly, I have been on again off again with many self care habits and I would like to actually make them HABITS. I really need to work on consistency and prioritizing what is best for me so I can but my best self forward in the world. Barriers for me being consistent usually are things like transition, illness, stress, or anxiety. There are too many things that I wish would be self-care habits, but I will pick just a few to focus on and bring more in as the year goes on. Check in with me in June 😉. Self-care for 2023 is going to be on point!
Why do Self Care
Self-care comes up in my job a lot. Many people have the general awareness that self-care is important but they aren’t sure why. There are many benefits self care can bring to your health and well being, some of them including those listed below. These are all things I have felt myself in the past when I have practiced self-care regularly.
Decreased stress
Self-care activities can lower cortisol (stress hormone) levels in your blood. Too much cortisol can lead to anxiety, depression, weight gain, heart disease, sleep issues, and troubles coping with life.
Improved self-esteem
People who regularity practice self-care activities have increased self-esteem and self-worth. When you take care of yourself you care for the beauty within yourself.
Better mental health
Anxiety and depression can decrease with consistent self-care. I do not advocate for self-care to be the thing that can ‘cure’ people of anxiety or depression; however, it can positively impact mental health by increasing happiness.
Better physical health
Self-care activities can lead to increased energy levels that allow for better physical health. Some self-care activities are physical exercise like walking or running and directly impact physical fitness.
Improved quality of life
Self- care can decrease things like frustration and anger. When you take care of yourself first you can better take care of others. Your ability to be resilient and cope with the daily stressors of life increases which also can positively impact the relationships around you.
Self-Care for 2023
Self-care needs to be individualized. Self care can look different to different people. For example, having my cup of coffee alone on my deck in the summer while I read is a self-care activity for me. Some people may have their coffee while they are busy running to work, getting the kids ready for school or commuting through angry traffic. What is your self-care plan for 2023? Do you have any specific goals for your life in regard to your health? These are the questions I asked myself to plan my selfcare in 2023.
When I was thinking about my self-care goals for 2023 I wanted them to be realistic, achievable, and something I actually want to spend my time doing instead of just going through the motions. If you have any activities to suggest or add please comment below! I would like to be more present in my life and decrease the amount of negative and unnecessary thoughts in my head. This could also be described as being more mindful. To achieve this I would like to do more of these self-care activities…
Start Meditating
I already downloaded and paid for a subscription to Headspace so off I go! I love that I can start with meditations that are just 3 minutes and work my way up to 10 minutes. There are also plans for the creation of a meditation space in my house… stay tuned!
Get out in Nature
I have a dog and usually she hates being outside in the winter (she is a chihuahua and it is currently winter). I live in British Columbia Canada and we can get cold and lots of snow where I live. Getting outside is still important without her during the winter to combat the Seasonal Affective Disorder that might take me down. In comes some snow boots for Miikka and myself to get us outside! I don’t like to be cold so we will start small. I do love the smell of snow and being out in nature and find it grounding.
Start Journaling
I have a lot going on in my head and I am a Type Eight Enneagram which means my default emotion is anger. Don’t get me wrong I don’t define myself by putting myself in the enneagram box but it is the only personality anything that has resonated with me. I don’t want to be so self-critical, pessimistic, or an overthinker. If I journal and work through the thoughts and emotions I believe it would help me be more present in my life.
Regular Exercise
This self-care goal has multiple parts. There is a local company that offers spin and barre classes and I went to buy a pass! I have gone a few times and can feel my body burning off the cortisol when I go spinning. Developing a daily yoga practice is also something that interests me and would help me work on my flexibility and mindfulness. I have previously seen these yoga videos and I am looking forward to following along with the CENTER program for January.
If you would like to participate with me sign up here for this yoga program (no cost, no I do not get any commission for sharing). I just love her videos and the more the merrier.
And this is where I stop. I could easily get carried away with adding way too many things to this list but I am going to focus on these 4 things. These are things I have time to do every day, are realistic and I have a desire to do all these things. What are your self-care activities for 2023?
