From The Mosh Pit to Meditation: Self-Care is not the same for everyone

From The Mosh Pit To Meditation:

Self-Care is not the same for everyone

Self-Care is the practice of preserving or taking action to protect our well-being and happiness. After suffering a significant loss both well-being and happiness feel hard to come by. The good news is that self-care can be forced a bit by taking action even when we don't feel like it. Here are some ways that you can make self-care personal.

It Is Not Only Mindfulness

Many people mistakenly believe that self-care is solely about meditation, breathwork, grounding, and mindfulness. But guess what? You can unleash your energy by screaming outdoors, into a pillow, dancing your heart out, eating a box of chocolates, or saying yes to the steak frites, blasting Metal at full volume, chopping wood, or even visiting a rage room to smash things or hurl axes where it is safe. How do you want to practice self-care?

What Do You Like?

We often misplace our favorite hobbies like we misplace our keys—lost under a pile of emotions! Sometimes, we just need a nudge (or a good whack with a memory stick) to remember it's perfectly fine to indulge in what tickles our fancy, even if it’s not on the “normal” menu. After a traumatic loss, "normal" takes a vacation, so why not give your self-care routine a makeover too? Embrace the weird and wonderful!

Here are some Ideas to get started

Taking Care of Yourself so You can Take Care of Others

Attending to self-care during the grieving process is crucial, particularly for those who are parents or caregivers. It is often said that one cannot effectively care for others without first caring for oneself, and this holds significant truth. We possess various coping mechanisms, both positive and negative, some of which were established earlier in life, while others may have developed following loss or trauma. It is important to maintain the beneficial coping strategies and steer clear of the unhealthy ones. Try screaming into a pillow or going out into nature where you are alone and scream your head off. Vent and yell. When you are alone and let it out it can prevent an inappropriate outburst at the wrong time in the wrong place.

Exercise & Nutrition

On a bad day, it’s tempting to become one with your bed and forget all about eating, but remember, even your body, mind, and spirit need their snacks to power through those "I’m only functioning at 50 percent" days. Cue the MasterChef in you or convince of your culinary sidekicks to whip up a meal or two for you to freeze and defrost when you’re feeling more like a couch potato than a chef. That way, you can stay fueled and fabulous without ever leaving your cozy abode. Grief affects your physical and mental stress and not taking care of your body and what you put into it can cause your immune system to weaken, reduces your energy levels even more and also influences your sleep patterns. "Grief Brain" is a real thing it can cause difficulty concentrating. If we move our bodies we release endorphins that truly ease anxiety and stress. Take a thirty minute walk it may provide a welcome distraction, increase your appetite and help regulate your mood. Hate to walk, run, hate going to the gym, no problem, dance, jump, or swim to move your body.

Strategies to Improve Sleep

Sleep can be hard to come by and that glass of red wine may help you fall asleep at first but then you are wide awake at 2:00 AM. I know how tempting alcohol, cigarettes, social media and other vices can be. Have you tried writing before bed? Have you tried listening to music that you like (find music that you do not associate with your loss). Try something that you have not yet. What works one week may not the next. Read something on paper instead of a screen. This is where the exercise comes in. How you choose to move your body is irrelevant but do it and it will help your sleep. Have a a before bed solo dance party.

Stress Management

Are you ready to take charge of your stress management? Now is the moment to trust your instincts and follow your heart, instead of listening to what others think is best for you. What fills you with peace? What elevates your spirit? Some of us thrive in chaos, while others find solace in tranquility. Perhaps you’d rather roller skate or hula hoop than join a spin class. When was the last time you paused to consider what you truly need to bring peace, restful sleep, and calm into your life? There are absolutely no rules!!! If bungee jumping, kayaking down a river, or throwing paint excites you more than sitting quietly and breathing deeply, then that’s exactly what you should do!

Whether you're rocking out in a mosh pit or finding your zen on a tree stump, it doesn't really matter. The key is to make sure you're taking care of yourself, even if you're not feeling like a superhero every day. Just remember, whether you're headbanging or om-chanting, keep your body, mind, and spirit well-fed and happy!