In the past, on my website (www.robert-brennan.com) around this time of year, I have talked about the ‘One Small Change’ philosophy, where you make just one small positive change to your lifestyle, and stick with it all year - and it really works!
This year however, as well as your annual small change, I want you to focus on self care. We are at a societal 'all time low' for self care, evidenced by rising stress, anxiety and depression among people of all ages, and it is just not acceptable.
Self care is defined as:
“The actions an individual may choose to carry out which move them closer to an optimal state of physical, mental and emotional wellbeing”
(Please note the absence of the words ‘pizza’, ‘wine’, ‘chocolate’ and ‘beer’ in this definition!)
To make things easier for you, here are my self care boosting tips for 2018:
Celebrate successes:
In the U.K.in particular we have a horrible tendency to undersell our good points and downplay our successes. It is time to own your strengths, celebrate your wins and be proud of everything you have achieved.
Say thanks:
When you get a complement, say thanks. Don't say; "no I'm not", "hardly", "not really", "you're just being kind", "what are you after" etc. Just smile and say thanks! Allow yourself to be complemented and take pride in it, whatever it's about.
Gratitude journal:
Neuroscience has shown that by recording one or more things we are grateful for in our lives in a journal each day, we become happier, more active, healthier, kinder, friendlier and more productive. Go get yourself a journal, now.
Meditate:
Meditation is one of THE most powerful ways to take care of your body and mind. Despite this, we, in the UK are terrible meditators as we seem incapable of doing something so ‘un-busy’ (new word there), no matter how beneficial it is. Break this mould and meditate daily to enjoy the encyclopaedic list of physical, mental and emotional health benefits. (you can find out how to learn meditation here http://www.meditationandhypnotherapy.com/meditation.html)
Do something you love each week (and don't feel guilty):
Thousands of people lose touch with their hobbies, passions, and true 'callings' because they are 'too busy' or ‘too tired’. Doing things you love will make even the most mundane things in your life a little rosier.
Be selfish:
Being selfish in this context just means DO NOT NEGLECT YOURSELF! Ironically, there is nothing more selfless than taking care of yourself as there is then so much more of you to go round, and everyone feels the benefit.
Have a nap:
I can't have a nap because... "I've got too much work to do" "the house is a mess" "isn't that what lazy people do?"... NO. It's what tired people do. The house can wait and you'll do twice as much work afterwards, so have a nap. Other cultures embrace daily naps, we need to get involved.
Be positive about the future:
Why would you be any other way? Make a plan for yourself right now on a bit of paper. Make it big, bold, bright, exciting, and ambitious, far-fetched even! Then sit back, and imagine it happening and smile as you do.
It may seem funny that I've not mentioned all the usual 'New Year New You' cliché. That is because it is all 'physical' self care, and is literally everywhere you look right now, so I don’t need to. I'm not saying it's not important, but the emotional and mental self care is so much more so, because if you get on top of that, then you will find the physical self care is already happening.
Now go and enjoy the rest of 2017 and have a great 2018!
Rob