Since my word of the year is “vitality,” every Sunday I hope to share something with you all that makes me feel vital, sparkly, happy, and alive from different aspects of my life. It isn’t about having a perfect life. It is about growing in wholeness and authenticity and living in joy, no matter what crosses our paths.
During these tumultuous political times, I have felt lately that my energy is dissipating in directions far and wide from my home and my family. In order to balance this, I have needed a serious dose of self-care.
I think everyone’s self-care list may look a little different since different things nurture different people. However, I made myself a list and am happy to share it with you in hope that you will create your own list of things that are nurturing to you!
My weekly list includes:
- Exercise (which is a daily task, but I strive toward a weekly goal)
- Yoga
- Meditation
- Walking/Hiking
- Going out for tea with friends without children
- Spending time with my husband alone
- Doing things I enjoy including drawing and painting, looking at art
My daily lists include:
- Sitting with a good cup of tea
- Writing
- Praying, reading Scripture
- Being in nature
- Spending fun time with my family members – playing games, reading together, laughing
- Reading fiction (not just things around development or Waldorf Education!)
- Getting support when I need it from my spouse and from friends
- If I have screen time for myself – to watch things that are funny and light-hearted
- Getting enough sleep and rest
The other things that I have done that have helped enormously is to pare down my personal Facebook page to limit political conversations; to pick the three things that I feel are most urgently politically for our family’s values and focus on those issues, and to limit computer time in general.
It is hard to be a sensitive person in these times, and self-care makes all the difference in the world. I would love to hear what your favorite self-care tricks are.
Blessings and love, and may you have a wonderful week ahead,
Carrie
The Parenting Passageway 
Hi Carrie,
I love your list and this pledge to self care. I have been following the series closely because it happens to be my own focus of the year as well! I find that a dynamic investigation of spiritual material, be it through dialogue with myself, other people or God/angel paired with quiet meditation is a very important dimension of a self care practice that really restores me. It has made the difference between just giving me peace and re-energizing me for the course ahead.
Very much enjoying the collective energy we’re putting out there for self-care!
Hugs, Acacia
Thanks for this wonderful post. It is refreshing to see someone in the Waldorf world include political activity – so many are just checking out, choosing to completely disconnect, but that isn’t an option for me. I need to have practical ideas for how to do both care for my home, family, self AND be active in the outer sphere as well. Thank you for your wise and timely suggestions.
I couldn’t agree more. Blessings Madeleine