A New Year.

A Chicago radio host I enjoy refers to 2020 as “the worst year ever.” He started his show on New Year’s Eve with a raspberry to 2020.  I’m pretty sure most people around the globe would agree with that sentiment on some level.  2020 is a year we will all remember, no doubt.

And now, 2021 is arriving to much hope.  Even though we can’t gather together, even though Times Square is closed to the public, even though movie theaters and restaurants are closed or limited, and even though the transference of government is looming in a cloud of unknowns, there is a sense of optimism in the air that 2021 will be BETTER than 2020. 

However… nothing much about our lives as they have been in 2020 has actually changed.  Covid-19 is still here. People are still getting sick and some are dying of Covid-19.  Masks and social distancing are ways of life and will be for a while. 

Even with the vaccines, distribution will take a while and they are saying that vaccinated people can possibly still spread the disease.  Masks and social distancing are going to be common for a while. 

It’s been a long 10 months since Covid arrived and our lives changed. It is going to be another long while before we return to normal and we are not sure what our new normal will look like.  

The reality of continuing on as we are prompts me to look at self-care, both for myself and as an encouragement to others. The winter solstice has passed and the days are growing longer, but we have two long months before March brings some hope of Spring. 

Self-care is not about a list of thing of SHOULDS.  That is a burden.  Self-care is about stopping often, daily to say, “What am I feeling?” “What am I thinking?”  “How am I doing?”

A quick google search gives TONS of ideas/thoughts/lists for self-care. Here is one list, copied and pasted:

Activities that help you to stay fit and healthy, and with enough energy to get through your work and personal commitments.

• Develop a regular sleep routine.
• Aim for a healthy diet.
• Take lunch breaks.
• Go for a walk at lunchtime.
• Take your dog for a walk after work.
• Use your sick leave.

Self-care is simply being attentive to yourself, aware of your state of mind and body, and doing what you need to do to be sure you are physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually in the shape you want to be. Every day. 

Take care of yourself. Give yourself a break. Change only one thing at a time, if you feel you need to make some changes.  Don’t overwhelm yourself.

Consider getting help in learning how to care for yourself. 

Thankfully, counseling has lost its stigma so it is pretty easy to find a good therapist to talk to.  A good, trusted friend who will listen without judgment is pure gold. A journal to record thoughts and experiences is often therapeutic and can give insight for identifying areas for self-care. 

Whether you and I need to slow down or speed up, go for a run or schedule a massage, read a book or tackle a neglected task to make ourselves more centered, let’s make a commitment to do it. Let’s make a commitment to daily ask ourselves, “What am I feeling? What am I thinking?”  “How am I doing?”

And then to listen to our answers and take care of ourselves. So that a year from now, we look back and say, “2021 was one of the best years ever.”

Join the Your Best Third Third Facebook community to have a conversation about the ways you are taking care of yourself!