Remembering Self Care

Romans 12:12

Rejoice in hope, Be patient in tribulation, Be constant in prayer.

Today my dear friend, Jamie Utt, reminded me of the importance of taking care of myself. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in life and the hurts of others, that I struggle with self care.... and maybe a little more often than sometimes. I can spin into self destruct mode without even noticing it.


As part of one of his advocate classes, he was instructed to make a self care plan. I've really never put a lot of thought into this before, but I think it's a great idea!

As I head into my final semester and a season of travel, here are a few things off the running list of things I can do to take care of my self;

• Listen to worship music, Aaron Watson or some good oldies
• Read some from The Ultimate Love Letter
• Massage the base of my neck, my hands or my feet
• Sit on the floor in the kitchen
• Cuddle with a puppy
• Serving others (in a non-stressful way)
• Take a nap
• Sing
• Write from the heart on one of my blogs
• Knit or Crochet.... even if the end goal is to have something to pull out
• Go get nasty sweaty at the gym
• Sit at a piano and wander across the keys
• Drink some tea
• Give things away
• Bake!
• Write a letter to someone I haven't talked to in a while
• Make a list of blessings/thankfulness
• Paint a canvas
• Go for a prayer walk
• Pop in a musical
• Take pretty pictures
• Have some quiet time or even a half day for a God Date
• Journal
• Watch the Free Hug video on YouTube
• Sink into a Bubble Bath in a room full of candles
• Hangout with some of my favorite kiddos
• Make kool aid Popsicles in an ice tray
• Call up one of my sisters, parents, adopted parents, church mates, or Brandon
• Doodle and make random lists
• Go do some target shooting
• Do something crafty
• Read through some old journals to remember how far I've come
• Watch Jeopardy, Friends, Boy Meets World, or Wishbone
• Pull the hair out of the drain, blow out a keyboard or one of my other weird cleaning delights
• Look at things in my "happy times" box
• Have a mini dance party
• Make weird sounds into the face of a fan (if you haven't talked into a fan before, you really should)
• Braid my hair
• Curly up with a fluffy blanket
• Peruse through the photos on my hard drive
• Cry in the shower
• Laugh
• Chew a large wad of gum and practice blowing really big bubbles
• Rub my ear lobes (like what they did on Runaway Bride.... it really does work!)
• Go for a hike
• Practice Gleeking
• Sing in the shower
• Go smell pretty flowers

For me..... these things make me happy, remind me what's important, make a me feel like a kid again and bring me back to place of contentment.  What's on your list?