Strictly Personal - Self-care and Me - Shifting with the Times

For the past decade we have been plagued by the news to a dangerous extent.  We have been inundated with it on a 24/7 basis. Escape is difficult, but it is imperative that we disconnect from the onslaught as it takes us away from living our real lives with real people. With the progression of the Internet and social media, the last decade has not allowed us a break in what we have had to take in. The result is that we severely undermine our mental health. That is why I decided to call a moratorium on the news and social media.  I felt it was time to put it all into proper perspective. I’ve had enough of the reading and hearing the views of the strangers reporting the news, compounded by the the countless unknown “voices” commenting and posting on that news across many social media platforms.

It’s a matter of self-care. Self-care is important to self-preservation. We are living in a time and space where mental health is universally and collectively at high risk and that further damages the mind and the spirit. If you are feeling down, lost or in a place of despair, then it becomes vital that you practice attending to your self-needs for the sake of your health.

Here’s what I’m doing to inspire personal self-care.  Admittedly, it’s off to a sluggish start, but I intuitively sense that I will see personal improvement with time.  It won’t happen overnight, but it WILL happen. It will help me to respond with reason, rather than react with emotion.

1. I will read or view the actual news of the day, only once in a day and wean myself from all but one or two reliable, unbiased sources of media.

2. I will not comment in conversation with strangers regarding their views, opinions, or any other such nonsense that wastes my time.   (Not everything I read has to be answered!)

3. If I want to view something special, like recipes or fun videos, I will carve out the time that I feel I will be relaxed enough to have fun with them.

4. I will ignore comments on social media, except for positive ones that are directed at me by people I know or am familiar with.

5. Walking and exercise is going to take a priority as movement is vital to the body’s management of emotion for self-care.

6. Though I meditate regularly, I am going to make a habit to be more faithful to it by opening and closing my day with it in calm, luxuriating silence.

7. I intend to be more active with the lighter side of what is happening in life, and, though aware of the bigger picture, I plan on being more open to positive experiences.

8. I’m going to read more books, take up my artistic hobbies again, crochet, and play with my little Maltese, Karma, more.

9.   Music will be more present in my home as something to enjoy OFF of the internet or social media.

10.   I’m going to journal more about the positives of my day so that I dwell in gratitude

Finally, I’m going to offer hope and understanding to people I come in contact with on and offline, whether I know them IRL or not.

Remember that this is just my personal approach. My hope is that in sharing this with you, that you will be inspired to take these baby steps along with me by tailoring your own list for self-care.  No matter what, take that first step.  It will help you move through challenges with a more stable spirit and a calmer demeanor.  You will also not feel alone.  There are many of us out there, especially now, and we can open our collective understanding to help each other.