64 Self-Care Ideas for Grievers
www.whatsyourgrief.com
Self care is pretty important. Many of us are -- overstressed, overworked, overtired and underpaid. Which is why looking at self-care in a realistic a way as possible, favoring ideas and activities that are easy and accessible.
64 SELF-CARE IDEAS FOR GRIEVERS
1. Take a walk: Hike in the woods, on a local nature trail, or around the neighborhood. The exercise will do you good and you never know what you'll see or who you'll meet.
2. Take a nap: The National Sleep Foundation says a short nap of 20-30 minutes can help to improve mood, alertness and performance.
3. Smile: Did you know the simple act of smiling (even without a reason) can make you feel happy?
4. Read: A 2009 study showed that it took participants only six minutes to relax once they started reading. For the purposes of stress relief, it is suggested you forgo heavy texts for a good novel, spiritual/religious reads, or self-help books.
5. Play: What is play? It's any purposeless kind of fun.
6. Get a few minutes of fresh air and sunlight.
7. Have a good cry: Supposedly stress-related tears help the body rid itself of nasty cortisol (aka the stress hormone) raising chemicals.
8. Engage in a game or activity that requires focus: a 1000 piece puzzle. For something a little less time consuming, try your paper's daily Crossword or Sudoku.
9. Practice patience.
10. Practice forgiveness.
11. Practice kindness.
12. Practice gratitude.
13. Plan a night out with friends: Go to your favorite restaurant, see a show, or attend a sporting event.
14. Establish a better work/life balance.
15. Listen to your favorite music play list: Music can have a positive impact on both our physical and emotional health, from reducing the perceived intensity of pain to relieving symptoms of depression.
16. Go somewhere that makes you feel at ease: My spot is Barnes and Noble.
17. Spring clean.
18. Take stock of your support system: Who can you count on and how?
19. Look through old photographs.
20. Have one-on-one time with your children (that means one child at a time).
21. Make out: Apparently kissing boosts immunity, burns calories, and relaxes you. Yeah!
22. Okay so 'no' to making out. Why don't you try cuddling instead?: Cuddling reduces stress and makes you feel happy! Equal opportunity cuddlers can snuggle up with a mate, child, or pup.
23. See a movie.
24. Watch funny YouTube videos. Yes...seriously.
25. Watch other videos on YouTube.
26. Read WYG posts about watching videos on YouTube.
27. Plan a weekend getaway.
28. Adopt a pet.
29. Treat yourself to a day of relaxation: Not a fan of the spa? Relax at home.
30. Try a new hobby:
~Photography
~Journaling
~Scrapbooking
~Cooking/baking
31. Make your annual doctors and dentist appointments: good health is a part of good self-care.
32. Cross something off of your bucket list: Don't have a bucket list? Create one.
33. Get into an exercise routine: I don't need to espouse the benefits of exercise because you already know.
34. Cut back on your alcohol intake.
35. Be creative.
36. Join a support group: Among other benefits, support groups can help you gain a sense of empowerment and feel less lonely.
37. Seek online grief support.
38. Make a plan to start eating healthy.
39. Then go eat a piece of chocolate and pour yourself a cup of coffee.
40. Get on the floor and play with your kids (or pet).
41. Find a quiet place where you can be alone with your thoughts.
42. Better yet, try a warm shower or a bubble bath.
43. See a counselor or therapist.
44. Visit your place of worship and spend time in prayer.
45. Join a club or group of any kind: There's benefit in joining any group that gathers around something you like -- camera clubs, choirs, widower happy hours, etc.
46. Volunteer your time.
47. Don't let things hang over your head: Either do them or choose to not let not getting them done stress you out.
48. Sing at the top of your lungs: Research has shown that singing is line a tranquilizer that both soothes your nerves and makes you feel happy.
49. Or I guess you could just dance with reckless abandon.
50. Open your windows.
51. Allow yourself a day of unapologetic sulking.
52. Retail Therapy!!! Is it real??? Pssh...who cares? Time Magazine says it is, though.
53. Sttttrrreeeetttccchhhh: Here's 10 basic:
~Stretching safely
~Calf stretch
~Hamstring stretch
~Quadriceps stretch
~Hip flexor stretch
~Iliotibial band (ITB) stretch
~Knee-to-chest stretch
~Shoulder stretch
~Shoulder stretch with towel
~Neck stretch
54. Comfort someone in their time of need.
55. Spend time in a place where you feel close to your deceased loved one(s).
56. Play a sport: Play by yourself or join an adult sports league.
57. Take a yoga class.
58. Find ways to make your workday healthier.
59. Phone an old friend.
60. Throw your plans out the window and spend a few days schedule-free.
61. Practice deep breathing.
62. Go for a drive.
63. Limit the time you spend on the Internet and Social Media.
64. Subscribe to 'What's Your Grief'
9. Practice patience.
10. Practice forgiveness.
11. Practice kindness.
12. Practice gratitude.
13. Plan a night out with friends: Go to your favorite restaurant, see a show, or attend a sporting event.
14. Establish a better work/life balance.
15. Listen to your favorite music play list: Music can have a positive impact on both our physical and emotional health, from reducing the perceived intensity of pain to relieving symptoms of depression.
16. Go somewhere that makes you feel at ease: My spot is Barnes and Noble.
17. Spring clean.
18. Take stock of your support system: Who can you count on and how?
19. Look through old photographs.
20. Have one-on-one time with your children (that means one child at a time).
21. Make out: Apparently kissing boosts immunity, burns calories, and relaxes you. Yeah!
22. Okay so 'no' to making out. Why don't you try cuddling instead?: Cuddling reduces stress and makes you feel happy! Equal opportunity cuddlers can snuggle up with a mate, child, or pup.
23. See a movie.
24. Watch funny YouTube videos. Yes...seriously.
25. Watch other videos on YouTube.
26. Read WYG posts about watching videos on YouTube.
27. Plan a weekend getaway.
28. Adopt a pet.
29. Treat yourself to a day of relaxation: Not a fan of the spa? Relax at home.
30. Try a new hobby:
~Photography
~Journaling
~Scrapbooking
~Cooking/baking
31. Make your annual doctors and dentist appointments: good health is a part of good self-care.
32. Cross something off of your bucket list: Don't have a bucket list? Create one.
33. Get into an exercise routine: I don't need to espouse the benefits of exercise because you already know.
34. Cut back on your alcohol intake.
35. Be creative.
36. Join a support group: Among other benefits, support groups can help you gain a sense of empowerment and feel less lonely.
37. Seek online grief support.
38. Make a plan to start eating healthy.
39. Then go eat a piece of chocolate and pour yourself a cup of coffee.
40. Get on the floor and play with your kids (or pet).
41. Find a quiet place where you can be alone with your thoughts.
42. Better yet, try a warm shower or a bubble bath.
43. See a counselor or therapist.
44. Visit your place of worship and spend time in prayer.
45. Join a club or group of any kind: There's benefit in joining any group that gathers around something you like -- camera clubs, choirs, widower happy hours, etc.
46. Volunteer your time.
47. Don't let things hang over your head: Either do them or choose to not let not getting them done stress you out.
48. Sing at the top of your lungs: Research has shown that singing is line a tranquilizer that both soothes your nerves and makes you feel happy.
49. Or I guess you could just dance with reckless abandon.
50. Open your windows.
51. Allow yourself a day of unapologetic sulking.
52. Retail Therapy!!! Is it real??? Pssh...who cares? Time Magazine says it is, though.
53. Sttttrrreeeetttccchhhh: Here's 10 basic:
~Stretching safely
~Calf stretch
~Hamstring stretch
~Quadriceps stretch
~Hip flexor stretch
~Iliotibial band (ITB) stretch
~Knee-to-chest stretch
~Shoulder stretch
~Shoulder stretch with towel
~Neck stretch
54. Comfort someone in their time of need.
55. Spend time in a place where you feel close to your deceased loved one(s).
56. Play a sport: Play by yourself or join an adult sports league.
57. Take a yoga class.
58. Find ways to make your workday healthier.
59. Phone an old friend.
60. Throw your plans out the window and spend a few days schedule-free.
61. Practice deep breathing.
62. Go for a drive.
63. Limit the time you spend on the Internet and Social Media.
64. Subscribe to 'What's Your Grief'
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