5 Ways to Express Self-Care

We hear about self-care all the time. What does this look like for you?

Here are my 5 Ways to Express Self-Care:

1. Set boundaries. The boundaries we don’t make are the lines that cause disappointment when crossed. Practice boundaries regularly, so that you and the others around you are aware that those are your boundaries.

2. Speak up when you feel a certain way about something. Sometimes, we tend to hold our thoughts back in conversations or situations, again, to accommodate the needs or desires of others. It is a great quality to think carefully before you speak, but to not speak at all may not serve you. Bottling things up might lead to unhealthy stress. Communication matters.

3. Acceptance. Accept what you cannot control. Change what you can. Avoid "avoidance". If you need support, meeting with a mental health professional might help.

4. Notice how you feel physically when you are in a stressful situation. Try and pinpoint how you feel during a stressful moment – do you have to use the bathroom? Use it. Do you feel cold? Put on a sweater. Do you feel hungry? Eat something. Tending to how we feel physically, may help to cope in the moment. Ask yourself, "what do I need right now?"

5. Avoid using the word “BUT” when appreciating something about yourself. Instead of saying, “I’m proud of my work, but I’m so bad at such and such”, try saying, “I am proud of my work” and leave it at that. Instead of saying “my eyes are beautiful, but if my lashes were longer they would be better”, tell yourself “my eyes are beautiful”. You have probably heard that you start to believe what you repeatedly say. So, if you wouldn’t feel comfortable with others talking like that about themselves or you, why would you be okay with saying it?

Happy Valentine’s Day! <3

Dr. Nadia Mawji, ND

Calgary Naturopathic Doctor

**Any information provided in these posts are intended for information purposes only and not to be considered naturopathic medical advice. See your naturopathic doctor for individualized support & guidance