A Season For You

For the parents who have children returning to school this month, I like to think that the Autumn can be a season where we can reflect on how to take care of ourselves and focus on some self love after a busy summer. 

When we think about self-care or self-love, most people will think of elaborate plans like going to a spa or a weekend away.

When I think about focusing on self-care I like to think of small, manageable things we can do every day that help us to feel like we are filling up our own cup.

I am sure you have heard the saying that you can't pour from an empty cup. This means we cannot take care of those around us if we are not taking care of ourselves first.

Some simple acts of self care could be getting an early night, placing a hot water bottle on tight muscles, making ourselves a hot chocolate or favourite herbal tea, ringing a friend.

If you were to take a piece of paper and write out five things that you can do that help you feel like you are nurturing yourself, what would be on the list?

If tomorrow you woke up and you treated yourself with love, how would your day look? Take out that piece of paper and start writing your five things that could help you feel like you are really caring for yourself.

Start with your morning routine. For some people, self care means getting up a little earlier so they have time for a cup of tea alone before the rest of the family gets up. Rushing in the morning can create stress in the family and set you up for a poor start to the day.

Are you allowing yourself time to get ready without stress in the morning? What else can you do to make your morning time calmer and more enjoyable?

During the day at work or at home,  can you take a few minutes for yourself to sit and listen to your breathing or the clock ticking in the kitchen? Moments of mindfulness can help us check in with ourselves and give us a breather during the day.

When you are collecting children from school or a childminder, can you allow yourself a few minutes of listening to music you enjoy ?

Become aware of what you are consuming during the day on the radio or TV- is what you are listening to uplifting or full of fear? 

It can be easy for our lives to become just about working and minding our families, particularly in the darker Winter months.

Is there an activity you would like to join this Autumn that would be fun and would help you to relax? Maybe it means arranging a weekly meetup with friends who make you laugh.

What would make you excited every week? Socialising with our friends is proven to improve our mental health so it is important to make room in our lives to meet our friends. 

Remember that unless we are filling up our own cup with things that nourish our body and mind, it will become more difficult and tiring to look after those at home in our families.

Your family deserve a happy mother and father and it sets a good example to them when they see you taking care of yourself and being happy.

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