Taking a riff on Kym’s Love Week, today I’m talking on the blog I’m sharing some things we can do to show ourselves some love. Since it’s Thursday, there are three of them.
- Move your body. This is not something I would have put on a list a year ago. It’s probably not even something I would have put on a list 6 months ago. But, and I know I owe you the full story on this and it’s coming I promise, I am now someone who(finally!) sees the benefit of moving my body every day. The secret, for me and maybe even for some of you, is not calling it exercise because I have lots of blocks that immediately come up when I think about that word. By focusing on moving my body I can do things like yoga or stretching or strength training. I can get up and go for a walk around the library in the middle of the day. I can take a walk outside (but only when weather conditions are perfect) at lunch time or after work or on a weekend. I just feel so much better when I take care of myself this way.
- Complete a nagging task. Sure, cleaning out a drawer or a closet or the basement is a pain in the ass. And sure, it’s something that’s easy to ignore. But! When you take the time to do it, and it usually takes less time than you think it will, you will feel so much better about getting it done. You might even feel like a weight has been lifted. Or maybe that’s just from the bags of stuff you got rid of. In any case, if you’ve got a thing you’ve been avoiding doing I’m here to suggest that doing that crappy thing is a form of showing yourself some love.
- Indulge in a hobby without guilt. Do you want to sit on the couch all day and read? Play Animal Crossings until Tom Nook makes you nuts? Sew or knit or crochet? Whatever it is, give yourself all the time to just do it. Don’t stop to switch the laundry or make a to do list or run an errand. Pamper yourself with a guilty pleasure for an unlimited amount of time. It will be extra easy if you’ve already done numbers one and two from this list, I swear.
So those are my ideas for showing some self-love. Bonus points for the fact that they can all be done during a pandemic!
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Very good advice.
I think we need to stop calling them “guilty pleasures” — we should not feel guilty about doing things that bring us joy, especially in these difficult times! They’re just pleasures, full stop.
Like you, I think a real shift in my thinking has made it easier to exercise regularly. I like to think of it as making my body stronger and better able to take on any health or physical challenges the future might hold. And of course there’s also the appeal of getting away from the computer screen/work for an hour!
Those are GREAT ways to show ourselves some love! (And especially the “move my body” one. Oh, YES!) I’m working hard to stop thinking of my “hobbies” (those things that give me joy) as “rewards” for getting my “real work” finished. Enough of that! XO
Great advice, Carole. I am currently working hard on #2. I am cleaning out all closets, drawers, and cabinets, and I am attempting to be ruthless. I know when I am finished and the charity has picked up all those bags, I will feel lighter than a feather! It is certainly a task that needs doing, and it has been weighing on me for a long time. I still struggle a lot with #3, but I am trying to remember that life is short, and I need to spend more time really enjoying it. Thanks for the great reminders.
All of these resonate here…I wouldn’t have thought of putting the ‘nagging task’ on this list–but it IS a gift (oooh, that satisfaction) when it’s done!
I take quilting mini vacations my husband never knows about. I spend time planning so meals are already in the freezer or we have leftovers for that day, I arrange my chores so I don’t have anything looming over me and then I’m free to quilt for a whole day while he’s upstairs ‘at work’. We’re both better for it.
I LOVE how you describe this, Robby. What a great approach!
I have been watching Homeland for hours at a time. I found the series available at my library so I can sit and knit or stitch while I watch and it has been wonderful. When I was working full time, this would not have been possible and at first, it did feel a bit indulgent. But I can so I do!
You’ve given me some interesting things to think about! I already do #1, but could certainly do much more and not view it as a chore. I’ve never thought about #2 as self-care, but I think you are right. Taxes are looming, and I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to think of them as anything but a nagging task, but I certainly feel much, much better when they are done. Like Kym, I tend to think of my hobbies as rewards for when my “real work” is done, but maybe I can work on that. Thanks, Carole!
I love the idea of not calling it exercise! I really need to move my body more, and I need to make it a priority – especially the stretching and yoga, I think they’d both really help me. I actually did #2 a couple weekends ago and cleaned the counters off in my kitchen. Definitely feeling much better about it now that it is done!
The best…and you are so right about #2! I’ve got Mondays off now and am trying really hard not to feel guilty about spending time reading or knitting…it’s hard but I’m making my way through! 🙂
This is all such good advice! I do struggle with allowing myself to spend time with things like sewing, knitting, or making things. I often use my crafting time as a reward for getting my chores and errands done. I need to work on changing that!
All good suggestions, Carole!