Self-care in the summer is so important, and SOC resident hypnotherapist and EFT practitioner Mel Maelo, explains why.
The summer months can be a wonderfully busy, sociable time as we make the most of the warmer days and evenings. Strangely, although we expect and want the summer to be nothing but fun, preparing to go away, attending and arranging more social events or perhaps juggling childcare with work commitments can all take their toll on our energy levels and mood. There can be a pressure to look after others and make sure they have a good time, somewhat like at Christmas! Making time for yourself is important so that you can fully enjoy this time of year.
There is a great metaphor for self-care that is often used in psychology, of the airline attendant reminding us to put on our own oxygen mask before we help anyone else with theirs. Few situations in our daily lives mimic the wake-up call of an airplane emergency. This makes it so easy to keep putting self-care off, until we get sick, overwhelmed or exhausted, and suddenly don’t have the energy to care for the people who count on us. That’s when we realise we haven’t been getting the oxygen we need to sustain ourselves. We begin to understand that taking care of ourselves is neither selfish nor indulgent, it is vital and practical.
Putting yourself first means that it may be necessary to say no to someone else in order to say yes to yourself. You can encourage yourself by saying “I am caring for myself so that I am better able to care for others.”
Remember that self-care doesn’t have to be massively time-consuming. Just take small steps every day to support your health and wellness and have an understanding of your physical state and any ‘dis-ease’ that may be starting up. Start to notice and become aware of when you are in balance and when you are out of balance. Ensure that you are getting enough sleep and some exercise that you enjoy, ideally outdoors to boost your Vitamin D levels (vital for good mental health and calcium uptake). Just a few deep breaths, expanding your ribcage fully, breathing out for a few counts more than you breathe in for, can reset your body and mind. If you have been suffering from a niggling pain or health issue, take the time to seek advice to address it, as this could be adding unnecessary stress and reducing your ability to function at your best. Find a few minutes a day to let your mind relax from thoughts of past and future and focus on the sounds and things you can see around you. Engage in a good, healthy diet and eat mindfully.
Making some small gestures to put yourself first every day will pay off in the long run for you and in turn for the ones you love.
The team at SOC are always here to help. Please contact us anytime by email at info@shorehamosteo.co.uk or phone 01273 567654.
