The End Of Jan

THE END OF JAN

It's no secret. It's official . JAN IS GONE!!!!!!

Whaaaaaat......Howwwwwwww????? Oh, the tough resolutions and the lovely lists are still on paper, the white board has no better markings than it had when Jan was born and yo.....JAN IS GONE :(

But hey , Jan didn't promise to be here forever. But we did promise ourselves ,come Jan or Dec, we will CARE. :) We read all those articles and forwarded innumerable posts on "Self-Care" but how much did we indulge in those .Has our self-care become another annoying chore, an additional burden , an unenjoyable task???? Then something is amiss.

1. THE MINDSET - Self Care starts with the individual you are . What works for others as selfcare may not work for you and may leave you feel physically ,emotionally or even financially drained and burdened. If you know that its the cup of tea and not the cup of coffee that works for you , apply it in the other ideas as well. Bubble baths and candle ideas are wonderful but they definitely can be replaced with evening walks, sudoku or crossword time, a music or dance class or any activity that brings out the passion and joy in you.

2. THE IMPLEMENTATION - And its not one activity a day or weekly expensive indulgences that count as self-care. It is the recurring systems that we create in our awake hours that actually add up to sustainable self care. Daily exercise, routine delegation of household chores to other family members , drinking enough water , timely meals , mindful breaks from workspace , conversations with family , eating a meal together etc are all easy self-care-systems.

3. THE FOLLOWUP - Never hesitate to check with yourself " HOW IT FELT ". Did it feel better with the walking alone or walking with a friend ? Did it feel nicer with the yoga or with the Zumba? Did the journaling help or was it the positive self talk?

Definitely a work in progress, self-care doesn’t have to be a complicated subject and shouldn’t take up much of our time. It also doesn’t always mean treating ourselves to special gifts or activities. Focusing on the basics like sticking to routines of health , food and hobbies (without distractions) is a great way of everyday selfcare. And so what if Jan is gone , Feb is here all-ready to throw surprises ,take on new challenges and move on with hope and faith . Are we??? :)

Article written by Capt Lekshmy Natarajan(Retd),Co-Founder ,HEAL Foundation