Self Care Strategies for Naturally Gluten-Free Health

Although I know today is Monday, not Sunday, I have several self-care strategies for naturally gluten-free health, using natural products.

Do we, as celiacs and NCGS (non-celiac gluten sensitives), need to think about self-care? Maybe not specific to being gluten-free, but I think we, as women, need to start taking care of ourselves. If we don’t take care of ourselves, take time to charge our own batteries, so to speak, then where will we find the energy to care for our loved ones, the people who depend on us, without becoming grumpy witches?

Self care is not a new term, but it is something that you should become familiar with. It’s never too soon or too late to start taking care of yourself.

Usually we hear about self-care Sunday, and that is a great place to start, but I want to give you some tips to help you incorporate self-care into your everyday life.

What exactly is Self-Care?

• Self-care is a very broad term and can honestly mean anything. Self-care can be described by each person differently. To one person it can be about doing anything that is fun and exciting but to the next person it is about being quiet and fully relaxed in the moment and even then, someone else might think it’s a combination of both. Self-care is an individualized plan of activities that will allow you to be mentally, physically and emotionally healthy.

Are you a stressed-out, busy woman with no free time? Odds are you answered with a resounding yes that was so loud you startled your kids, your dog, and your significant other.

Women today have more on their plates than ever before. Natural caregivers, who often place the needs of others before their own, they have to make time for their career, kids, friends, siblings and parents, and even their coworkers and neighbors.

Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom, a social worker, a nurse, or online marketer, self-care often becomes a lesser focus as you work on healing and caring for those around you.

Self-care should be something that we have in our minds at all times. It should be a habit, a lifestyle and a routine that is seen as something just as important as taking care of other people’s needs.

Yet, we still find ourselves at the end of a week, exhausted and with no energy or effort left to put into ourselves. The old saying goes, how can you fill up a cup when your pot is empty?

If you haven’t been practicing self-care for a while or at all, it can be overwhelming at first to break it down and know where to start. Here are 5 steps you can take to make sure that you are keeping your self-care at the top of your priorities list.

Make YOU a priority:

• Self-Care First – Just like health studies have shown exercising first thing in the morning gives the best results the same goes for self-care. Take care of yourself first to start your day off positively. When you get things out of the way you’ll feel accomplished and awesome.
• Schedule Self-Care – Today people are more productive than ever. But, they are also distracted. The best course of action is to schedule in the things you want to do for self-care. Schedule that haircut or massage. Schedule a short phone call with friends or family during your break at work. Schedule lunch with friends. If you put it into your schedule, you’re more likely to do it.
• Be Attentive – Be aware of your surroundings as well as yourself. Your environment and knowing what you like and dislike plays a major part in self-care. If you are adding things to your routine that you don’t like and that don’t make you happy, look for a way to remove them or make it better.
• Reward Yourself – Self-care shouldn’t only be about rewarding yourself but it is a great way to get started. It could help you to get some much-needed work done and help you get the care you need. Maybe you know you need to exercise but it’s not something that you really enjoy doing. Start rewarding yourself for doing it so that you get an immediate benefit for anything that will only provide long-term results. For example, did you do your exercise every day for a month? Schedule a facial or massage to reward yourself.
• Try Meditation – Meditation is a great way to clear your mind and help you relax. The goal is to focus on breathing and nothing else. Studies show that meditation and prayer help cut down on stress and improve memory.
• Take Alone Time – Self-care doesn’t have to be about going and spending a bunch of money or doing exciting activities. Sometimes people just need alone time. Take time away from children, spouses, and coworkers so that you can rejuvenate and focus on your own thoughts. A good way to do this is get some nice relaxing music, draw a warm bath, get your essential oil diffuser going with some lavender essential oil, (I recommend doTERRA), lock the door, and just soak. Even if it’s only for half an hour. It will help recharge your batteries.
• Spend Time with Friends and Family – Schedule some time with friends and family. Go out to dinner or play board games at their house. Do something different than you usually would do with them also. Make it a date so you have something to look forward to.
• Buy Something – Go buy a new outfit, a pair of hiking boots or a coffee at Starbucks. Add it to your budget so you don’t go overboard. It’s okay to splurge every now and then if it makes you feel good and isn’t completely unhealthy.

Self-care can be simple. All you need to do is to figure out what is best for you and do it. One thing that may help you decide what to do, is to write down the goals that you have for yourself, so that you can ensure that the things you do lead you towards meeting those goals.

Could a health coach help you reach your health goals? Schedule a free 20 minute consultation with me here.