Taking Good Care of A-CHOO!
Written by: Jennifer Voorhaar, LCSW-C
As I sit down to write this blog, someone down the hallway sneezes and there’s a round of “Bless you” that comes from open office doors. I chuckle to myself and think, “Tis the season.” It really ‘tis the season for all of the things. But, is taking care of yourself one of them? I might take a wild guess and say you are likely at the bottom of any must take care of lists, if even on it at all. So, here is your invitation to consider putting yourself not only on the list but on TOP of the list.
Maybe you can consider “BLESS YOU” as that invitation:
Be present in all things. Mindfulness is vital for health and wellness. With so many things happening this time of year, we are often multi-tasking, checked out, or just not mentally and emotionally present. Give yourself permission to enjoy the moment, the meal, the people.
Love yourself. Take care of yourself in the same way you take care of those around you whom you love. Self care moments can be found even in the busyness of the holiday season.
Express yourself. Advocate for what you need. Speak up. Consider saying “no” to things that don’t serve you while opening up opportunities to say yes to those things that bring you joy!
Stay well. Germs are all around but we can combat them by the little things such as washing our hands, covering our coughs and sneezes, staying home if we are under the weather and resting when we need to rest.
Soups, stews, and chili are the season's best. Feed your mind, body and soul well. Whether it is with a bowl of warm goodness or a salad full of vegetables or some other whole food meal, feed your body to have the energy to enjoy this season and to stay well.
Yearly appointments are important. Whether it’s a flu vaccine, an annual physical, our yearly mammogram or some other annual appointment, be sure to schedule them and follow through for preventative health and wellness. The end of the year is a great time to look at the year ahead and put some notes on the calendar to be sure those appointments aren’t forgotten.
Outsource when needed. Ask for help. Delegate. Nowhere does it say that you have to do all of the things. So, who can help wrap presents? Who can bring a dish to a family gathering? Who can help run errands? Ask. Delegate and then… accept the help!
Understand what you need for the weeks and months ahead. Sit down and journal about how you want things to look and feel. Consider action steps to take in order to experience the holidays in that way.