HUM 6930 – The Art of Self Care

Making Progress

This week we are asked to continue to populate our template for self care. We are further asked to contemplate the following:

• What am I going to do?
• Spend more quality time with family and friends, especially with my spouse and granddaughter.
• Spend more time pursuing my creative activities
• Get my spending under control
• Get more exercise and lose a few pounds
• Develop a stronger spiritual practice
• Create a well loved, comfortable home environment
• When am I going to do it?
• All of the above will be worked on daily
• What can prevent me from doing it?
• Family and friends may be busy when I am free
• The muse is absent when I want to be creative
• Some times I spend more than I make
• The weather could prevent me from walking
• Interruptions
• Expense of repairs, resistance of spouse to plans
• How will I try and ensure I carry out my plan?
• Set dates ahead of time so that we are on each others calendars in advance
• Just do it! Even if only in 5 minute sketches or collages
• Ask myself do I really need this or can it wait until later so that I can save the money to buy it without using credit card
• Go to mall to walk or to the gym
• Remember to write in my gratitude journal and read inspiring literature daily. This will keep me from backsliding and make me thirsty for more
• Ignore the resistance, plan and save for the expense by putting it in my monthly budget

 Below is my week:

We were also asked to discuss:

• What worked?
• From my perspective this was a very good week. I felt extremely happy all week and felt like I accomplished many things in terms of my Wheel of Wellness and self-care.
• What did I enjoy?
• Creative time was wonderful. My husband was at work most days this week and this allowed me to spend as much time as I wanted in the studio. I really liked being in my space playing with my things. I also really loved spending the afternoon with my granddaughter. And I loved going out with my husband, we haven't been out to dinner in a while so this was a nice diversion.
• Is it sustainable?
• I really think this is sustainable because it is something I want to do. It is making me happy and I like how that feels.
• What else do I need?
• Make a better habit of exercise. This really seems to be the most difficult thing for me. It is just so darned hot to get outside and the gym is boring to me. I would much rather go hiking, walk along the beach or do yard work but can't take the heat anymore.
• How will I manage unforeseen circumstance? 
• Improvise of course! Part of taking care of your self is learning to be flexible and accepting less than perfection. The object is to feel well and balanced, not create more stress. So when things don't go as planned, I will just need to adjust to what is and take it from there.