Running things past my 'self care' checker...

[Whatwasthat]

I'm trying to get into the habit of stopping myself every now and then throughout the day and checking on my 'self care'.

It occurred to me that everything I do and all the choices I make (I'm talking mainly about very small ones here) could be tweaked or changed a little to make them more 'self caring'.

This could be as simple as thinking 'I'm rushing at this admin task that keeps me sitting at the computer - and actually I have plenty of time to take a short break and go for a ten minute walk before coming back and starting again. That would be better for me than simply ploughing on'. Or  'I know I'm getting the urge to eat sugary food - but actually what my body would really like is a more balanced snack. It'll only take me ten minutes to put together something more healthy'.

These are such small things that, in a way, they hardly seem worth mentioning. But I think it's the small things we do every day that have the power to change us.

Wondering if anyone else is trying anything similar and what results they've had.

[Naughty Nibbler]

These are such small things that, in a way, they hardly seem worth mentioning. But I think it's the small things we do every day that have the power to change us.

Wondering if anyone else is trying anything similar and what results they've had. 

HEY  Whatwasthat:
You make a good point.  The small thing do add up (positive and negative).  An exercise break and sensible eating are great choices.  If you add a little mindfulness, during the walk, to observe the sky, a flower, a tree, etc., you can hit a home run.

If you are stuck at your desk, the link below is an option to try, if you can put on some headphones.  If using a computer isn't an option, you could stream it on your phone.  I used a little tool to download the video from YouTube and put it on an Ipad.

12 minute Thought Stream Meditation with Dr. Mike Dow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0Lo5tUXkVI

[woundedPhoenix]

Hey Whatwasthat,

there is a simple question i sometimes ask, at random, all through the day.

it's:

what would a person that loves him/herself do right now?

And it's not that i don't have any self love, but due to upbringing and the toxic remains of a BPD r/s, i kind of lack some healthy self care and self compassion behaviours.

Asking this question kind of questions my automatic behaviours that often are/were self-neglecting.

[Whatwasthat]

Thanks so much for posting that link Naughty Nibbler. It's a great idea to have a short meditation to hand to use at the computer. Isn't it wonderful that these things are now so available to us online? And yes, noticing the small, or not-so-small, beauties around us when we're out and about makes a great deal of sense. I'll think about that as I walk down my street today. There's plenty to focus on since there are trees along the road and still some beautiful flowers blooming in the front gardens.

The point you make about challenging automatic thoughts and behaviour is surely key woundedPhoenix.  And I very much like the question you ask yourself!

I've had a tendency in the past to think that big, dramatic, external inputs are the ones that are going to make a positive difference in my life. But now I see it differently and believe it's the 'small', everyday actions that have the greatest power. I even do a 'meditation' which is nothing more than focusing on the feel of the iron passing over the clothes I'm ironing, the smoothness of the glide over the fabric and the sense of weight and rhythm in my arm as the iron moves. It's remarkably calming. And now perhaps I understand why my mother enjoyed ironing so much!