Weird Self-Care Techniques That Actually Work
Why should we self-care?
Self-care is a process of investing in your well-being. When we tend to our health, we create more resilient bodies and minds. Self-care involves nurturing the physical, mental, social, emotional and spiritual aspects of your life. There are many obvious ways to do this such as eating correctly, exercising, and nurturing family relationships and friendships. However, what are some things that can help us feel better that don’t immediately come to mind? Below is a list of items to consider when thinking about self-care.
UGLY CRY
Have you ever had a really good strong cry when shit has hit the fan? Things have been piling up and you can feel that knot in your chest, but you’re always around people or busy. Then suddenly, you see a commercial or watch a sad movie and boom! A few tears start quickly turning into that ugly, face contorted, barely catch-your-breath sobbing uncontrollably cry. How did you feel when your tears dried and your breathing slowed? Freaking exhausted but like a huge weight was lifted? That’s usually how I feel after a soul-wrenching sob fest. Crying is such a great emotional and physical release, yet many people push down those tears when they really need to break the surface. So next time you are feeling a need to release, schedule some alone time and put on some sad music or that super sad movie and let loose with those tears.
PLAY LIKE YOU DID WHEN YOU WERE A KID
As children, my friend and I used to run around the neighborhood and play “spy.” Of course, nowadays, I wouldn’t do that because, well - let’s face it - I might get arrested if I run around my neighborhood pretending that my neighbors were criminals that need monitoring. But, I can watch a spy movie or play a game that allows me to be a spy. It doesn’t have to be a make-believe game like my childhood fun. If you loved jumping rope as a child, go into your backyard and jump rope or get a trampoline. Perhaps go out and catch snowflakes on your tongue or catch some fireflies. Find some colored chalk and play hopscotch or just draw some pretty pictures on your sidewalk. The sky’s the limit here. Find something you loved when you were young and rediscover your inner child.
ANGRY EXERCISE
Any kind of exercise is excellent for your body and mind, but have you ever tried angry exercising? What I mean by this is by deliberately invoking angry emotions that you’ve been carrying around while you are exercising. Several years ago, I went through a nasty breakup in which I found out he lied to me repeatedly. When confronted, he blew it off as though he wasn’t really lying and I was wrong for being upset. In addition, I was in a tough job where I frequently felt they were taking advantage of me. I had a lot of pent-up anger that needed a healthy outlet, so when I came across a discounted kickboxing class, I signed up. We went through an exercise where we did speed sparring with a partner by quickly punching their pads. Apparently, I wasn’t hitting very hard and my partner said, “You’ve got more than this. Isn’t there anyone you’re pissed at? Come on! Punch them!” That boyfriend’s face immediately came to mind and I beat the crap out of those pads, causing her to shake her hands out at the end of the exercise while laughing and saying, “Boy, someone really did piss you off.” I felt amazing after that exercise and class! My anger wasn’t gone, but it definitely subsided. Next time someone has upset you, instead of telling them off, hit the gym and take note of how you feel after.
HELP SOMEONE ELSE OUT
This seems counterintuitive when we think about our own self-care, doesn’t it? However, research shows that helping others can increase a sense of meaning in life. An article by the NY Times reports that assisting others improves our coping skills, especially during a crisis. Best of all, there are many ways to help out in the world. It doesn’t have to be as fancy as donating a hospital wing (although if you have that kind of money and it speaks to you, have at it!). You could do something as simple as sending a card to a friend going through a rough period, offering a hand to someone moving, or signing up to volunteer at the local animal shelter (it doesn’t have to be someone but perhaps a something). When we go out into the world with the intention of assisting others, it provides us with a greater sense of purpose which in turn can increase our own happiness.
INDULGE WITHOUT GUILT
Binge-watch a TV show. Have a Saturday movie marathon. Play an online game for a few hours. Set aside some time to do exactly what you want to do and do it without berating yourself for taking that time. Most of us live busy lives and frequently don’t reward ourselves with downtime. Or when we do, we “check out” while beating ourselves up thinking about the two thousand items on our to-do lists not getting done. By consciously setting aside a specific time to indulge in something pleasurable, you reduce the impulse to beat yourself up. You can also be far more creative than having a movie marathon. For example, when money is tight for me but the urge to travel is strong, I can get lost in scouring the internet for all those places I want to visit. It gives me the relaxation I need and helps inspire me when I’m ready to return to work. So pick a time period each week and consciously have some fun your way.
WRITE A LIST OF ALL YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Have you noticed many humans seem to gravitate towards negativity and must work on staying positive? Humans also seem inclined to use negative self-talk much more frequently than we care to admit. What if you took some time each day or week and only focused on the positives in your life by writing all of your accomplishments? This could be anything you view as an accomplishment. If you are going through a challenging time, your day’s achievements may be “I got out of bed and got dressed.” “I ate a healthy breakfast.” Perhaps it's something you wouldn’t think of as an accomplishment, such as “I walked out on that abusive relationship,” but that’s hard as hell and deserves your acknowledgment! Accomplishments can be as simple as “I cheered up my friend last week” to something huge like “I finished graduate school.” Whatever comes to mind, write it down and reread your list. When you want to lean towards negative self-talk or need a pick me up, think of your list to help you remember all that you’ve done during your life. And what better way to self-care than being able to cheer yourself up?
These are just a few of the many ways you can practice self-care. Think of things you can do that best suit your personality, needs and time. Having some ideas in place to practice self-care will help boost your overall sense of peace and well-being. Doing this consistently can help you avoid burnout and increase your coping skills, especially in times of high stress.