Tennis balls

What does self-care look like to you?  Most people think of bubble baths and massages, but I see self care as much more simple tiny intentional acts that happen all day long. Take some time to think about everything that is challenging, uncomfortable, and undesirable about your day and how can you make it just one percent better? Use tiny, little strategies to take care of yourself all day long.

I will be the first to admit, I am not very good at meditation. I have tried it, but I am not very good at it. I do however, put a full glass of water on my nightstand every night so that I can drink it every morning before I even get out of bed, rehydrating my body to get the extra boost to start the day. I keep tennis balls under my desk to roll my sore feet. I keep a lavendar vanilla candle on my desk because the smell keeps me calm. I take two minutes every day to make sure my work bag is organized for the next day, to save me time and aggravation in the morning. I keep little bags of almonds in my car, purse and work bag so I am never hungry. I very intentionally allow myself an extra several minutes to get to work so I have time to sit in the car and take a few deep breaths before I go in, so as not to arrive harried and stressed. A few of my girlfriends and I have a weekly standing coffee date so we stay connected. I play Downton Abby on a small screen on my desktop on very low volume to keep me feeling calm while I am working on particularly stressful things. I make time to walk my dog every morning. I have yoga mats in my bedroom, home office and work office. 

Most importantly, I evaluate my day and make changes where necessary. I have a habit of leaving my keys in my scrubs pocket, then running back into the house to find them the next day. I installed a command hook on my dashboard just for my keys, so when I see it, I am reminded to leave my keys in the car.

I still have stress and worry and feel anxious at times, but I know I am doing what I can to manage it and keep it under control through tiny strategies all day long. Little micro changes go a long way. 

Think about the little things you can do for yourself to make your day more enjoyable. You will thank yourself later!