T O P I C R E V I E W
Heather
Member # 3
posted 01-27-2013 12:45 PM
This week, I'm taking three days for myself to do an at-home, self-care retreat. You all know how it goes: I've felt tired, frazzled, stressed, and in need of some things to take the edge off that are about caring for myself. As plenty of you probably also know, when you go without that for too long, it can really jam you up. Thus, my three days this week. I sat down with pen and paper and wrote out what I intend to do during that time, with a focus on the things I know really help me chill out, re-center and just take very good care of myself. For me, that looks like: A ton of yoga and meditation, two to three times a day, without any time limits on it; just the ability do do it for as long as I'd like each time Time spent outside Nothing but raw foods and fresh juices (I eat like this much of the time anymore, so that might sound like torture to some of you, but three days of nothing but raw is my idea of heaven at this point) Basic body-care/love stuff, like baths when I want them, lots of dry brushing, re-purpling the hair I make purple, soaking my feet, etc. Reading, and NOT work-books Trying to learn to nap (I have never accomplished this skill, not even as a kid) Time to play my instruments Time to snuggle with the dogs and my sweetie No-rush phone catchups with my closest friends and family Doing some artwork or writing just for myself Making the space I live in more beautiful, rather than racing to clean it Water: so much drinking of water Let's be real: sex is in there, too. So, that's me. And I'm so, so looking forward to it, and know that doing something like this also helps me to get back in the groove with self-care more often around some of these things, even if I can't devote the same amount of time to them in an average week or day. Whether or not you might have the ability soon to give yourself a self-care retreat of sorts, what would yours look like? What would be in it? Why not try making a list and keeping it somewhere so even if you don't have a couple days, when you've got a few minutes, and know you need some self-care, you can pull something off the list?
Molias
Member # 101745
posted 01-28-2013 05:43 PM
I've been thinking about this a lot lately! This is what my usual self-care list looks like: Making food, especially baking something like a cake or cookies Taking a walk where I bring my camera and take pictures as I go Riding my bike Knitting, usually while I listen to music or podcasts I enjoy Snuggling with my partner or with my cats Reading something fun and fluffy Drinking coffee, my ultimate comfort food When I first moved to the city I lived in now and it felt like my life had been uprooted and shaken about a bit, I started a list of "fun things to look forward to" that included things like what I listed above but also specific places in the city I wanted to visit, art I wanted to hang on the walls, and habits I wanted to start in my new house. It was nice to have more of a long-term self-care plan, and that's something I'd like to do again soon.
smittenkitten
Member # 2297
posted 01-29-2013 12:22 AM
I really suck at taking downtime. If I don't have something to be busy and excited about I feel lost. I also don't tend to get stuff done unless I schedule it. That said, I present to you the list of guilty pleasures: - EATING, especially ramen or mac & cheese or carbs - Singing/playing music - Cross-stitch - Having a beer or 3 at my "local" - Groping my wife - Watching Grey's Anatomy/Glee with my wife while consuming carbs - buying shiny things The list of things that would actually be good for me to do: - Go for a walk, not just to the bus stop - Cook dinner for my wife - Sing/play music - Spend less time on social media at work - learn to focus on everyday tasks, not just special exciting ones - consume less carbs Things I am doing to bridge the gap: - My wife is teaching me to cook - New job makes it easier to focus (most of the time) - I'm joining the local gay & lesbian choir so I will actually sing I can never be straightforward about these things, can I? Marion
Jill2000Plus
Member # 41657
posted 01-30-2013 05:51 AM
My list: -Drink large quantities of Jersey Milk (I know this is probably pretty unhealthy physically, but it's one of my ultimate comforts, also if I'd done this very recently when I was having the self-care weekend I'd probably skip it and just have semi-skimmed or dessert instead) -Drink plenty of water -Drink some fruit juice -Eat cheesecake/pasta with cheese/fruit/veggies/bacon/other things I enjoy eating -Listen to music/dance/sing -Masturbate -Take a shower/Brush my teeth -Watch one or more of my favourite feel-good movies -Watch a cour (about 5 and a half hours) of anime or some other stretch of TV show of a similar length (maybe a quarter of a longer show season would be good, like something with 40 min-1 hour long episodes) -Treat myself to a little retail therapy (if I can afford it, and I'd be happy with just finding a couple of cheap secondhand CDs I wanted on Amazon or something like that) -Go for a walk (which would also mean getting to spend some time outside) -Read an entire novel (or at least a big chunk of one) or several volumes of manga -Doing some artwork or writing -Cuddling my cuddly toys
alex dubya
Member # 93291
posted 03-25-2013 06:38 PM
This list is a little bit of a crossover between self-care and my distractions list for when I feel upset or anxious. But it's all about taking small steps to treat myself well. -Sketch -Play one of my instruments -Masturbate -Watch Netflix -Take a really hot shower -Go for a walk -Paint my nails -Make a strong cup of coffee -Make something nice for someone else -Take a (short) nap -Write a message to someone I love -Have a beer -Windowshop online!
That Strange CT child
Member # 104246
posted 03-26-2013 04:27 PM
Heres mine, the last one is as of this weekend Sleep Eat Drink tea Eat junkfood Cook or bake Masturbate Photograph Do homework Take care of my animalz!!! Self harm (i started again on saturday and i cant stop)
Heather
Member # 3
posted 03-27-2013 04:42 PM
Hey, That Strange CT child: can we perhaps agree that listing self-harm as self-care is a bit like listing starvation under what you ate today? In other words, I see you did a lot of self-care, and then you also engaged in some self-harm. But I hear you recognizing that AS self-harm, which is the antithesis of self-care. So, how about either crossing it off this list, just for yourself (you don't have to edit your post for our benefit), or just acknowledging that you did a bunch of what sounds like great self-care, but also hurt yourself, too. Which happens sometimes: self-care is great stuff, but alas, it's not magic.
That Strange CT child
Member # 104246
posted 03-28-2013 01:17 PM
Ok I am unable to edit the post but its off my list I figured to put it on since although it causes minor physical damage, it does help distract me from mental pain I have a few more things to add to my list that r positive though: Draw Text Play iPod games Sometimes watch TV Grow plants Find stupid stuff to laugh at Make up mythical creatures and languages (though im getting sick of doing this)
blueberry
Member # 101779
posted 03-31-2013 01:53 PM
This is a great thread Here's my list: Eat lots of fruit and vegetables and yoghurt with honey Drink plenty of water (and tea) Sleep a lot Cuddle up in the sofa with my boyfriend Watch a movie or documentary I've wanted to see for a long time Read a good book, just for fun Paint or draw, take photos, or do something else that makes me feel inspired Decorate our apartment Put on some good music and do a silly dance in the living room with my boyfriend or by myself if I'm alone Bake something or try out a new recipe Clean out clothes and other things I don't use anymore and give them to charity (perhaps I've read too many feng shui books, but this always makes me feel like I'm cleaning up my messy thoughts as well) Take a bath (if I had a bathtub), or go to the sauna Do something physical that doesn't feel like exercise (in a bad way), like swimming or taking a walk in the woods Hang out with nice people in a relaxed environment (not sure if this counts as self-care?)
Haleigh H
Member # 103145
posted 03-31-2013 01:58 PM
Self-care. I think about this a lot. Here is my self-care...being outside, yoga, farmers market and fresh food, art projects with my daughter, lots of sleep, red wine, music, FWF podcast, gardening, cuddling up. It makes me happy just typing about it.