It’s helpful to liken challenging times to being caught in a power-cut.

We’ve all become more resourceful anyway; due to the hefty cost of living, and so likely keep stocks of candles, torches, and hot water bottles to hand.

So, since our minds are already switched on to survival-mode; we can prepare a self-care kit, for times when we feel under more stress than usual.

Because, even for those of us who are conscientious about the importance of self-care; when we face unseen difficulties: all our good work of taking care of ourselves, – can fly out of the window.

We are fumbling around in the dark of our minds, and more easily distracted. Common sense can evade us, and our own hearts can be unkind to ourselves.

Yet, we know how helpful self-care is, whether we’re in the mood to keep consistent in applying it: at such times. We also know how frustrated we’ll get, if we let our healthy habits fall to the wayside.

We may have already realised the necessity of being kind to ourselves. For trauma survivors, this skill has taken decades to instil. We know the importance of maintaining it: especially if we come from fractured families, and so must be self-reliant.

I’m not talking about ensuring that you still get sufficient hours sleep; nor whether your appetite has diminished. Difficulty sleeping, or over / under-eating are common symptoms of coping with an addled mind. To some extent, you have to accept that these basic functions will be interrupted until you feel in a better sense of personal control.

Instead, I mean pre-planning, and assembling a self-care “kit”: ready to grab when your energy and wherewithal has depleted.

Gather- up and pop into a bag or box these items:

1: A timeless comedy that has never spiked your ire – for me it’d be Friends because it keeps my daughter in the forefront of my mind.

2: A scent which evokes calming memories, this can be a: candle / essential oil / soap – I tend to pick smells that remind me of my late grandmother.

3: A small selection of ambient foods that when in a happier frame of mind, you love to eat, – for me it’d be a tin of smoked mussels, or a bag of sports mixture sweets. Ensure that you include a couple of tins of fruit.

4: Tunes which instantly propel you back to your carefree years; the times spent getting ready to go out with your oldest friends. For me it’d be The Communards or Blondie songs.

5: A mind distractor, something you love doing. For me it’d be a note of a few blog titles, a yellow A4 notebook and my favourite blue biro.

 

I hope you find this helpful.

SUNNY wishes,

Emma x