I had set a personal intention to be consistent, and as I reflect on my reasons...life just happened. So I hibernated. Took some time away from personal pressures, and decided to take some time, to rest, refresh and re-charge. And it was not easy! The changes I made started small and gradually became regular practice. For me it's about learning to recognise the signs of when I need to simply rest.

I will share some offerings with you later.First I'd like start with a couple of questions, for you to reflect on: How have you been?  How are you today?

Self-care

The online dictionary defines self-care as:

‘ the practice of taking action to preserve or improve ones own health.’

Self-care can mean many things. For me, listening to my body, and getting to know as an , why I'm so tired. After a moment of giving myself some time to stop and reflect...the lightbulb moment came, ‘…..aaah that’s why I’m so tired!’

Suggestions/offerings:

• Take a minute... pause, be mindful of what self-care means … it could be a self-hug, mindful breathing, being kinder to yourself or taking a moment to be still and sitting in a comfortable space.
• Be Present, without judgment- our self talk can impact our mood, be aware of your tone, for example is it harsh or is it soft.
• Be creative- I love dancing. What's your thing? Is it listening to music, looking at an image/photo, a painting, walking or listening to nature. Be curious about what works for you. Take time to find out.
• Choice- you choose a time to suit-  Where/when would you start? Time- you may want to start with a minute or less and build up the time slowly. Get to know your own limitations, what you might manage one day, may not work the next. Be patient. Where? It could be a space outdoors or indoor. It's your choice. 

There is no one magic formula to self-care. Whatever you decide, may change dependant on your particular need at the time. Create your own menu with a focus on mental, emotional and physical health.

Self-care may mean investing some time into getting to know you, learning about what you like or what you don’t like. Learning about yourself, may be challenging however taking your time, is a step towards improving self-care. It does take practice, and time.It's continuous and it changes. Know that you deserve to take care of yourself too!

If you would like to know more about what I offer as a counsellor/psychotherapist, please feel free to get in touch using the contact form.

Please be aware the above are only suggestions/offerings. Always seek medical advice from you GP.