Is self-care trending? It appears so within the business world..... Arianna Huffington in her book,Thrive emphasizes well-being - acknowledged along with money and power- in redefining business success. As the editor and chief of the Huffington Post, it was a life-altering collapse from exhaustion that led Ms. Huffington to assist herself, re-assessing what constituted success and to the writing of her book.
We, as family and professional caregivers of the chronically ill, have access to countless articles that emphasize the importance of well-being and self-care. Self-care is an element of the strength-building regimen presented in my own book Caregiving with Strength, offering several assisting strategies....
In the article, Self-care for the Caregiver, providing care is acknowledged, as in Caregiving with Strength, to be demanding, hard work. Although rewarding, it is not unusual to be prone to anger, sadness, frustration and guilt for feeling this way. Sharing the emotional experience is encouraged without judgement. Feelings are assessed as not good or bad, just a normal part of being human.
There are numerous writings specifically on assisting family caregivers through the holiday season. Like all year round, tips such as eating right, getting rest, supports and taking breaks are mentioned.
Also, alot is written about cultivating an attitude of gratitude....and rightfully so. It can be self harming to walk around always thinking about the things you want that you do not have, constantly in a "keeping up with Joneses" mentality. Feeling sorry for your lot in life, thinking that others have it better than you is a prescription for misery.
So acknowledge, assess, assist making a list for yourself, what are you grateful for? the roof over your head? the country you live in? the people you share your life with? your friends? the car that takes you wherever you want to go?
Watch this video for more....
In the article How to Choose Gratitude this Holiday Season, a comical suggestion is made that you may not see in other articles or videos.....
"Be grateful that this day, dinner, or disaster will soon pass and you can get back to your real life in January, the most boring, uneventful month of the year".
The timing for making New Year's Resolutions is perfect considering that it is after the holiday season, which is the time of the year when we tend to indulge
In the 11 Unique Ways to Enjoy the Holidays without Weight Gain, fitness expert Chris Freytag's suggestions include thinking 80/20, practice portion control, do not go to a party hungry and contribute a healthy dish.
This holiday season is a time of sharing, giving, receiving and reflecting. Hope you can make it a comfortable, restful, enjoyable time for you, those you care for and about........