Claire Chamberlain - SELF-CARE : how to live mindfully and look after yourself.

SELF-CARE

Copyright Summersdale Publishers Ltd, 2019

Claire Chamberlain has asserted her moral right to be identified as the author of this work in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

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INTRODUCTION

If you often find yourself feeling burnt out by the pressures and strains of everyday life, it could be time to introduce a little self-care into your daily routine. Despite the name, self-care is certainly not selfish it simply means taking steps toward looking after your own mental, emotional, spiritual and physical well-being. This book is packed full of practical, easy-to-adopt tips and inspiring quotations to help enrich the most intimate and long-lasting relationship in your life the one you have with yourself.

Self-care means giving yourself permission to pause.

Cecilia Tran

BE CLEAR ON SELF-CARE

When looking to care for yourself more fully, its important to understand what self-care means. The term refers to any deliberate act you undertake that protects and nurtures your own physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. It doesnt just entail pampering. Instead, self-care encompasses a number of practices, from eating healthily and exercising to becoming more mindful and embracing meditation, which can relieve stress and anxiety, while nourishing your body and soul.

ITS NOT SELFISH TO LOVE YOURSELF, TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, AND TO MAKE YOUR HAPPINESS A PRIORITY. ITS NECESSARY.

MANDY HALE

Let go of guilt

Often the biggest barrier to self-care is guilt. Feeling bad about spending time tending to your own needs is common, especially if you feel you should be caring for someone else or doing something that appears outwardly more productive. But remember, taking time to look after your own mental and physical well-being will ultimately leave you with more reserves of energy to invest in others, not less. Its time to drop the guilt and recognize self-care as a wholly necessary, healthy and vital act.

Carve out and claim the time to care for yourself and kindle your own fire.

Amy Ippoliti

GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION

One of the simplest ways to drop any residual guilt is to give yourself permission to take time out for yourself. Often we get so caught up in our many roles and responsibilities that we dont feel we are allowed to prioritize ourselves. So remind yourself now that your mental and physical health are absolutely a priority, then give yourself the green light to act on this new-found awareness.

Rest and self-care are so important... You can not serve from an empty vessel.

Eleanor Brownn

Love yourself enough to set boundaries. Your time and energy are precious. You get to choose how you use it.

Anna Taylor

SCHEDULE SOME ME TIME

With all of the other daily tasks you need to complete, its easy to demote yourself to the bottom of your to-do list. So schedule some time for self-care each day physically writing it down in your diary, or setting an online reminder, means you will be more likely to follow through with your intention.

Some days you may find a whole hour or evening for self-care, while on others five minutes to sit quietly and focus may be all you get. No matter how little time you have, block it out in your diary, to ensure the moment doesnt get swallowed up by everyday chores and other responsibilities.

Self-care is never selfish, but it may feel that way when you live a frenzied life.

ARTHUR P. CIARAMICOLI

TIME YOU ENJOY WASTING IS NOT WASTED TIME.

MARTHE TROLY-CURTIN

FINDING THE TIME

Figure out the moments of the day when you can make time for yourself. Even if you have a packed schedule, there will be pockets of time to set aside for self-care. Early mornings, lunch breaks and evenings are common times of the day when you might have some alone time. Think also about times where youre simply waiting waiting for a train, for food to cook in the oven, or for your childs after-school activity to finish. These are perfect moments for self-care, such as getting lost in a book, going for a mindful stroll, sipping a hot cup of tea, or meditation it can be whatever you fancy! Carve out these pockets of free time for yourself.

ALMOST EVERYTHING WILL WORK AGAIN IF YOU UNPLUG IT FOR A FEW MINUTES, INCLUDING YOU.

ANNE LAMOTT

Switch off each day

Being constantly connected in an always-on world can feel overwhelming sometimes. Even in your downtime, you might find yourself staring at screens, answering messages and getting sucked into social media. One of the simplest and easiest ways to recharge is to switch off, both physically and mentally: turn off or remove any electronic devices, close your eyes, take a series of deep breaths and allow yourself to tune into your senses.

WHEN YOU SAY YES TO OTHERS, MAKE SURE YOU ARE NOT SAYING NO TO YOURSELF.

PAULO COELHO

Its only by saying no that you can concentrate on the things that are really important.

STEVE JOBS

BECOME COMFORTABLE WITH NO

Saying no can be hard. We are often socialized to believe that refusing other peoples requests for help is selfish. We worry well appear uncaring or, worse, damage our relationships. But what if, by saying yes, youre risking your own mental and physical health? The sad fact is that, in an effort to be liked, many of us take on additional chores, projects and responsibilities without pausing to consider how this will affect our well-being. Next time someone asks you for a favour, dont agree automatically. If you want to say no, be kind but firm, such as: Thanks for asking, but Im afraid I cant this evening. (Note that you dont have to justify your decision with a reason either!) Alternatively, if you arent confident enough to be so direct, buy yourself time. Saying, Let me check my diary and get back to you, allows you to step away from the situation and consider how the request will affect your own time and energy levels.