This morning, I'm writing this article while the snow is gently falling and my coffee is cooling down from "piping hot" to "just right". It's a Friday morning and while I should be at work or taking care of my ever-growing to-do list, I've decided to take a day off for the sake of my mental health.
It's surprising how many co-workers, friends and clients have told me how they have been feeling over-stressed, overwhelmed and over-worked. Earlier this week, I was on the telephone with a co-worker who was on the verge of tears because she feels so drained and is ready to call in sick after running on empty for so long.
As I can only speak for myself, I've grown to understand my own "warning lights" of when it's time to step back and to care for my own sanity while the world continues to carry on without me. Perhaps you can relate to a few of these symptoms:
Your patience threshold seems to be lower than normal.
You find yourself becoming more emotional than usual, often at inappropriate times. You feel lethargic or apathetic.
You begin to resent your daily responsibilities, family members and even furry friends.
Or my personal favourite... You start craving chocolate bars, potato chips and other junk foods that go straight to your hips!
These are all signs when it might be wise to take a break, stop worrying about all of the "shoulds" and to care of your own mental health. Don't worry, the "shoulds" will always be there for you and will wait for you to return. Here are a few tips which may be helpful for you in regards to self-care...
Schedule a day off: it is amazing how pushing the pause button can help you catch up to where you want to be. In our society, there is a fear of looking weak or lazy when we ask our supervisor for a day off at work. In reality however, there are times when working harder leaves us frustrated, angry and downright physically ill. Sometimes taking a day to do the things that make you feel the guiltiest is just what the doctor prescribed.
Eat Right: as human beings, every part of our person is connected-physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. If you have been working so hard that you've been skipping your meals or grabbing fast food on the go, you may be doing yourself a disservice and every part of your being may be saying "stop!". Remember: what goes in will eventually manifest itself in some way. If you are putting junk in your body, don't be surprised if you feel like it too!
Exercise: believe it or not, sometimes our body is craving mood lifting chemicals such as dopamine, adrenaline, endorphins or serotonin. A brisk 15 minute walk has been known to lift the mood and the heart rate as our brains release all of the feel good chemicals that we so desperately need.
Talk things out: just as our bodies need physical exercise, our minds also need to do some work in order to stay healthy. Inside of our brains are billions of tiny highways and backroads which allow electricity to flow back and forth between neurons. If you've been feeling down or stressed, psychotherapy is known to naturally rewire the brain in order to help us feel better; often by turning negative thought patterns into positive ones.
Hug Somebody: physical touch has been known to psychologically decrease stress and increase trust in relationships. It also releases oxytocin, better known as the "love hormone". Hugging can help as a non-verbal way of saying "I'm here for you" and "I feel your distress". I encourage you to hug someone (appropriately of course). Find a friend, a loved one or adopt pet from your local shelter. You'll be amazed what happens when you start reaching out!
There you have it. 5 ways in which you can practice self care. I encourage you to consider putting one of these options into action
this week. And if you find any of this helpful for yourself or anyone who you care about, please pass along the information and let me know through the contact page on the left hand side of this website. Until next time,