Self care - what does it mean to you? How do you factor it in to your life?

posset How do you find the time to do 10,000 steps per day?

Why do the ordinary things we like doing have to have a label … ‘self care’, what a load of tripe

I try to have a short walk with our lovely rescue dog as she has such a positive outlook on life. I do gentle exercises for my back at night and stretches in the morning. I like to manicure my bails and put a colourless polish on to make them feel less neglected. Love to paint my toenails a bright colour, gives me a lift.
I must have a platter of fruit and a small tub of Kefir midday as it makes he feel healthier.
Reading a good book relaxes my mind.

If I want any life at all, then I have to eat half a Papaya every day, I did stop and thought I was cured, but started being sick again, ever since I had an operation to cure my hiatus hernia (which not only failed, but the surgeon accidentally cut through a nerve to my stomach rendering it useless). Most of the past year I have been fed though a PEG tube, but the papaya has helped heal my stomach and I am no longer PEG fed

Coffee first thing in peace.
Swim or gym depending on the day.(Not weekends)
Sometimes lay on the bed and just relax.
Magazine and a treat.

I do exercises and walk every day but for me more important and liberating is the idea of Self Compassion (nothing like self indulgence - and it leads to more kindness to others too). If this interests you I cannot recommend highly enough the book 'Self Compassion' by Kristin Neff - many books are called 'life changing' and this one really does fit those words. It has been in print for over 10 years which tells you it is valued by many people.

I never think of self care I just do what needs to be done on a daily basis I don’t label it
I work 20 hours a week on my feet the whole time, I work on my allotment,nI walk on the beach and swim in the sea, I don’t label it as self care they are just things I enjoy doing like watching the soaps, moaning about them, and falling asleep while they are on

I try to eat a good diet. I do balance every morning cleaning my teeth courtesy of Michael Moseley. In the early evening do my squats and tiptoe exercises for my knee as I broke just before last Christmas. I had back ache last year and self referred to physio so I do those to keep a better posture. I generally do these every day. They only take 7 or 8 minutes.

I stand on one leg whilst brushing my teeth to help with balance, and do leg lifting exercises in the morning before getting up to help with core strength. Otherwise nothing specific apart from the usual 10000 steps and eating a healthy diet. I have a large very steep garden and that is enough to keep me fit............although I'm always complaining about it!

I'm still working at my cleaning job, at 76 that's enough exercise for me! Self care is not getting up at my usual 4am, having a leisurely day,maybe a facepack and do my nails,or do some sewing.

I don't. I never have. I always put everyone else's needs before my own. And I know I shouldn't, and I also know that at this stage in my life, I'm now facing the consquences of a lifetime of putting everyone else first.

I do oil pulling, dry skin brushing, eating healthily, walking... I used to go to Pilates classes but since I gave up my car I also gave up the classes; keep meaning to do some at home, but it's rare...

Self care for me involves a weekly Pilates class (and, if I’m good and remember, do some of the exercises between the weekly class, but admit I’m not as diligent as I should be). I do exercise in other ways, ie, try to fit a short walk, do plenty of housework, garden.

I also try to be sure I’m eating healthily, drinking enough fluids, and move about as much as possible.

It’s also important to spend time relaxing, too, either reading, being on here, doing puzzles, painting, watching tv, relaxing in the garden, meeting friends, bird watching, etc. These things are important for self care, too.

Some time spent on oneself is time well spent and shouldn’t be ignored.

Every morning after getting up I sit for an hour with coffee and breakfast, after taking my meds and Paracetamol, I can feel my joints unwinding and my brain waking up, I do wordle and sumplete and then I'm ready to start the day

I go to three exercise class each week ....seated... but with resistance bands.
I go to aquasise once a week, a longish walk on Saturday honour local common. There are beautiful woods to walk through which have been most welcome on hot days. I walk into town once a week and then bus home if shopping to carry otherwise I walk back to.
Each morning while waiting for kettle to boil I use a band to strenthen my hip muscles as both have been replaced.
I try to healthy fish, chicken, salads, veggies and don't buy biscuits any longer or sweets of any kind.
I feel I am being as pro active as I can but my downfall is a daily pack of crisps and a couple of slices of tea loaf spread with spread to help my cholesterol. Life is too short to cut out all goodies!!! 😆😅

kittylester

Just that really.

I have been given some exercises to do to strengthen my knee and, with the grandchildren having school holidays (!!) I have decided to abandon trying to do them till the visitors stop.

Get the little ones doing the excerxises with you. Put some music on and have fun.

Caring for my husband full time means I have precious little time for self care but every night after he goes to sleep I sit and watch something rubbish on prime video or Netflix and eat something that is probably bad for me.
I don’t do exercises, though I make sure I exercise during the day with my DH whose mobility needs to improve.

I do whatever I want to, spent many years doing things for others particularly family, I did not begrudge one minute but now being a widow and the three boys flown the nest I have realised how I put myself last. Get up when ever suits me, go to bed the same, buy what I want to buy and go wherever I desire.

I do exercises when making the bed, or immediately after saying my morning prayers.

Surely, if exercises are important enough you find a time of day that suits you, and just do them.

Spouses, visitors etc. don't question your need to go to the toilet, so why should they prevent you doing the exercises you have to do`? Or you make these people an excuse for not doing your exercises?

Walking daily, ditto tai Chi and exercises to keep me physically strong.

I have always eaten well, in the healthy way, as a the result of a chldhood health condition.

Everything does seem to have gone 'go hand'over the past year as we have stuggled to move house. But we moveed into our new home today and we are both lining up all the local activities that itnerest us ready to launch into the September
start of a new activity year.

Self care for me is tea and toast and puzzles and newspapers on the library app on waking, exercises classes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays every week that everyone knows is non-negotiable (although I’ve never said that, I just assume it’s known) . I’m not disciplined enough to do exercises at home, I have to go somewhere where other people are exercising (not gym😄!) I do a dance class and a Qi Gong/Tai Chi class. Sing in a group once a week.

“Afternoon rest” usually for an hour any time between 2 and 4 when I may read, or doze.

I do only have (and will only ever have) one grandchild. 🥲

Get my big mug of coffee at 7.30, sit in bed and read paper, including easy crossword, for the next hour. That sets me up for the day.

We usually find time for a cup of tea and the crossword but not so much in the school holidays.

We all need to take time for ourselves kittylester sitting down with a cuppa and the crossword takes only 15/20 mins out of the day ( although it depends on how difficult the crossword is) I go for walks, do Tai Chi, clean the house, shop, cook, meet up with family/friends. Quite happy with what I am able to do some days are more busy than others.

Self-care fr me is just that - being more careful and concentrating instead of thinking about other things and then having an accident.
It doesn't always work, as evidenced recently but, with little r no help or advice from the GP, I decided to do what I thought was best. That does involve sitting with my feet up in the afternoon as well as getting back to normal activities! However, that seems to be helping 🤞

Trying not to get stressed, eating 5+ a day, taking supplements.