Let’s talks Self care!

There quite simply isn’t anything more important than S E L F C A R E ! When we are investing time, energy and attention to our own wellbeing, we feel better about our place in the world, take better care of our relationships, improve productivity and feel far more empowered! Who doesn’t want a slice of that?

Self care is a massive umbrella covering the things we do to nurture our physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing. The key is to try out different things to work out what you enjoy, and what unlocks more vitality for you! We all get joy out of different things, there isn’t one blueprint for self care that works for everyone, and as a result self care means different things to different people.

Over the years, I’ve experimented with lots of different approaches to “self care”.

As a teenager, it meant picking up a fancy bath bomb, and having a soak with a good book and relaxing music. When I’m feeling overwhelmed, upset or particularly stressed, I always seek some extra nature time, surrounding myself with an expansive beach, or I cocoon myself in the forest.

Through trying out lots of different approaches, and studying what works, I’ve identified some common themes that I use to keep myself (and my clients) on track. I’ve come up with 5 fundamentals that we should think about every day, to keep us feeling our best!

These tools are:

• Nutrition

• Exercise

• Sleep

• Mindfulness

• Relationships

Over the next 5 Blog Posts, I am going to explore each fundamental in more detail and discuss the evidence. The next 5 posts will be fully referenced, but in the meantime, here’s a sneak peek!

NUTRITION

Nutrition is perhaps one of the greatest pillars of self care. The building blocks that you use to fuel your body have an enormous impact on how you feel. Put the right fuel in and your body will sing!

EXERCISE

In essence, our bodies are designed to move! In recent years, we have become more sedentary, so it is more important than ever to make sure that you are thinking about getting moving on the daily.

SLEEP

Never underestimate the importance of good sleep habits. Getting enough good quality sleep keeps our hormones from getting too out of whack. Sleep is a little bit like running a software update. Take the time to do it and everything runs smoother afterwards!

MINDFULNESS

Practicing mindfulness gives us tools to know ourselves better and see how we fit in to the bigger picture. Mindfulness practice can reduce stress and help us to regulate our own emotions in a more meaningful way.

RELATIONSHIPS

We are by nature social beings. Making meaningful time for others and nurturing your relationships not only puts more joy into the world but has a pretty profound impact on your own happiness and health.

Next up, we’re going to be chatting about nutrition - our first fundamental of self care! Stay tuned here or on facebook to learn more!

What does self care mean to you? What do you do (or try to do!) on a daily basis for your own wellbeing?

I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Fuchsia Goldsmith
NZ Registered Dietitian
Wellness enthusiast