7 Ways To Self-Care That Are Not Going To A Spa
Service Engine🔧 ⚠️
How long do ignore the engine check light before finally taking it in to get looked at?
If you’re like many busy folks I know, you might cringe with embarrassment because it might be longer than is wise.
You don’t want to be inconvenienced, so you keep putting it off and as long as there are no weird sounds and you’ve got gas in it, things seem fine.
Until they aren’t, and you’re left stranded in a parking lot cause the car won’t start and the nearest tow truck’s eta is 2 hours.
The sluggish speed. The sticky ignition. The unbalanced or shaky steering wheel. The bumpier than usual drive.
…were all signs that screamed things were not fine.
Now, not only does being stranded inconvenience you time wise, it also costs you more for towing, the repairs to what went wrong as well as the general maintenance it needed in the first place.
And when you drive it after it’s been fixed it, you realize just how much more it had been costing you in performance, time and effort than it would have inconvenienced you (you could have used Lyft, carpooled with neighbor, borrowed a friend’s car etc).
Unlike car parts that can be replaced, you and your health cannot...much to the dismay of many.
So when there are warning signs, subtle or not so subtle, please do not ignore them.
What might seem like an inconvenience, is an opportunity to pause and take action before things completely breakdown or blow up.
Maybe it’s the rising stress levels and shitty sleep.
Maybe it’s your reliance on food or wine to numb uncomfortable feelings or avoiding difficult conversations.
Maybe it's the sudden increase or decrease in appetite and cravings.
Maybe it’s onset of stiffness, achy joints or back pain.
Maybe it's your body feeling sluggish, bloated and constipated.
Much like taking your car in to get it checked when the service light comes on, or there is a decline in it's performance, it's the same thing you want to do with yourself when these little signs pop up.
Rather than wait to be forced into action, start making small checks to mitigate noting that some may or may not require a 'mechanic' (e.g. a doctor or other professional) to provide guidance and/or support.
These checks might look like:
Delegating to or asking someone else to share in some of your current workload e.g. kids, spouse, coworkers, hired help etc.
Setting and enforcing boundaries with yourself, with your colleagues, with your family and friends. e.g. no work calls after 5pm, no screen time before bed
Seeking counseling and professional support (if accessible) for your mental health.
Experimenting with non-food ways of coping kindly with emotions (could also include therapy/counseling).
Exploring self-help means of tending to your mental health e.g. support groups, journaling, meditating, reading/listening to books etc
Exploring movement and exercise as forms of self-care e.g. walking, running, hiking, dance, fitness classes, yoga etc.
Exploring food with fun and curiosity as a means to nourish yourself mentally, physically, socially, culturally etc.
It is not a matter of IF, but WHEN you will experience your own service engine ⚠️ warning sign.
And you serve no one, least of all your own health and well-being, by ignoring it or believing it won't matter.
It absolutely does matter but you taking even the smallest of steps to address it, matters even more.
