St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church

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St. Bart's Blog

Stay-At-Home Self-Care

Posted by Dawn Stary on

How many weeks has it been? I’ve sort of lost track. And now things are opening up; what does that even mean for me and for my loved ones?

If you are like me, these feel like confusing times! Plans have been canceled - 2020 feels like a year of disappointment. Still, it’s not all bad and there are ways to manage stress.

Be grateful for the things that are still good in my life.
We do not need to rush in the mornings, and I am never stuck in traffic. What are you grateful for during these times? Take 5 minutes each day for gratitude work.

As things open up, trust your instinct and do what is best for you and your family.
If you don’t feel comfortable going to a restaurant, then don’t. If you feel pressured to do so, I encourage you to let go of that pressure and do what is best for you.

Engage in serious self-care.
Repeat after me, self-care is not selfish. I love to run, it clears my mind. So I have been running more. Drink lots of water and do your best to eat well. No judgement if you indulge in snacks too sometimes. Still, eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Take sabbath from screens; social media and the news can trigger anxiety and fear, take a break from your screens. Listen to the birds chirp and watch the sunset, instead.

Engage in mindfulness.
Feel the breeze on your face, really pay attention to how your body is feeling and focus on where you carry your stress. I sometimes hold my breath when I am stressed. I, therefore, pay attention to deep and slow breathing. I like to pay attention to the smells around me. Mindfulness keeps me in the present and helps my brain get a break.
Ask for and accept help from others.

This can come in several forms. Maybe you haven’t been asking God for help lately. Let God in; pray, meditate, slow down and listen. Maybe you have been trying to go this alone? Call friends and family (those friends and family that don’t stress you out) and play a game online together or just reminisce but make time to laugh and enjoy.

At the end of the day, take care and know that you are a beloved child of God.

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