Journals and stuff

Support is a very important key to self-care. I am my husband’s caregiver, and right now, I am looking into an online support group for caregivers. There are many support groups, including online and in-person groups. 

But do not forget family and friends. If you do not have many friends, support groups and classes are a good way to meet new people and develop new friendships. Do not forget exercise groups at the gym and at the senior center. 

Before doing any of the 8 keys of SELF-CARE, start with this first one. 

The next one is eating well and being balanced in your food. This is not to say you can not have any sweets or junk foods. If you binge a lot and you think you may have an eating disorder, see a mental health professional. 

Eat less, and if you need to lose weight, lose to your natural weight. Do what your body wants. Some people are not meant to be thin but to maintain a healthy body weight. 

Laughter is the third key. Keep a sense of humor. Life can be tough and hard, but humor helps with the pain. Laughing helps. There is even a thing called laughter yoga, where you fake your laugh. I tried it, but I would rather watch funny videos. But look it up, give it a try, and see what you think.

I recommend watching funny videos of animals and babies. Also, get a silly joke book, read it, and learn to tell jokes to your friends and family. 

The fourth key is free time, which means different things to different people. It could be an indoor or outdoor hobby—in or out of the house. 

Simple, low-cost, or free hobbies are the best. Watch videos online to get ideas. Also, look back and see what you liked to do as a child, teen, or young adult. Write them down, try a few, and see what you think.  

Now for the 2nd word CARE.

Calm thoughts, mindfulness, which is sitting with your thoughts without judging them. You can just sit still or use an app to guide you. Just start with an app, and then you can just sit still. 

Acceptance of what you can and can’t change, learning the difference, can be very helpful. 

This is from the Serenity Prayer. Whist is used in 12-step programs. 

The Serenity Prayer (Shortened Version)

God, grant me the serenity

To accept the things I cannot change,

The courage to change the things I can,

And the wisdom to know the difference. 

By Reinhold Niebuhr:

 Record, which stands for Journaling. I’ve been journal off and on since my 20s. There are lots of benefits.

Key Benefits

• Emotional Release and Processing:
   
• Stress and Anxiety Reduction:
   
• Improved Mood and Positivity:
   
• Enhanced Self-Awareness:
   
• Mental Clarity and Focus:
   
• Problem solving 
•  
• Building Resilience:
   
• Emotional Intelligence:
   
• Physical Health Benefits:
   

The last one is exercise. 

Which is said to help with mood, reduce anxiety and stress, and help with attention and brain function. 

I find it hard because I’m easily bored with it. A new technique called gamification, which means turning it into a game or challenge, can help. 

You probably should not do them all in a day, but for a week or a month.