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Thursday, December 1, 2016

Self-care Activities to Encourage Optimal Health




Want to learn which self-care methods help you recover from setbacks to land on your feet? Maybe you're looking for ideas that help sustain your stamina, health, and optimism during those rough spots in life. Even if you’re dealing with minor irritations and ordinary stress, there’s help for you here too.

Updated 5/12/2020 


Learn tips to help you cope more effectively with sticky situations and people. 

Self-care practices give you the energy and determination to move forward, even when things don’t go the way you imagined or wanted them to.

Research suggests those who care for themselves well are able to work and relate better with others. 

Self-care activities also help you heal more fully from divorce or a break-up, death of a loved one, being downsized, an illness, retiring, or stepping forward into a new location or career.

The term self-care describes attitudes and behaviors you adopt to improve or maintain physical and mental health. 

Self-care practices include eating healthful food, showering and brushing your teeth, wearing clean clothes, and getting adequate sleep and exercise. 

In addition, it includes recreational, communal, and individual activities that maintain emotional well-being, and help you feel contentment and peace.

Self-care routines provide comfort and reduce stress. When you're mindful to take good care of your own needs, you can be there for others.

Want to operate at peak efficiency at work, and have bountiful energy to enjoy your personal life? Continue reading to get tips to


Improve Your Health with Self-care Actions



HALT. The acronym stands for hungry, angry, lonely, and tired. When you feel one or more of these, your body and spirit are trying to get your attention. It’s a signal that self-care is needed. Here’s what you can do to help yourself:







  • Journal to get a better handle on thoughts, perceptions, and feelings. Journal writing helps you identify and accept troubling emotions and thoughts and gradually convert them into positive ones. Spilling anger, hurt, sadness, worry, amazement, shock, grief, or confusion out onto the page will reduce emotional intensity. Then read 4 Powerful Reasons Journal Writing is Good for the Soul.
  • Grab a Nap, Take a Stretch Break during the workday, or do Yoga and Guided Meditations. Here's a morning meditation to Start Your Day Mindfully



Learn to focus on what is actually taking place from moment to moment.

Stop dwelling on hurts or mistakes of the past.

Curb your impulse to worry about what will happen in the future.

You can retrain your mind through self-care practices like meditation and behavior modification to let go of unhealthy habits that no longer serve you well.

When you use your senses to focus on yourself, your needs, your surroundings, and events as they are taking place, you'll feel more grounded and have a greater sense of well-being. 

Be kind, self-caring, and non-judgmental with yourself and others as you go through your daily activities. Notice whether full consciousness tends to reduce negativity, fear, and confusion. In addition, see whether you feel less anxious, uncertain, and less emotional and/or physical pain. 

When you're a witness rather than a judge of you and what goes on in your brain from moment to moment, you can be more present for yourself today.

Affirm, I am joyful now. I appreciate being alive in each moment! 







Before you go


Please comment below in the space provided. Some food for thought questions are...

What self-care activities do you think help you the most and why? 

Do you notice how often colors can be self-care helpers?

Are you consistent with your pre or post work self-care routines? Please explain why or why not.

How do you re-set your motivation, after you've had a self-care slip?

I find the most effective way to start fresh with self-care is positive self-talk. I speak loving to myself, as I gently pick myself up and begin again. 
Further reading at these links:


 The 5 Best Ways to Build Resiliency by Jessie Sholl

The Powerful Side Effects of Self-Compassion by Elisha Goldstein.




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10 comments:

  1. Hi Nancy,
    Excellent information. I find that exercise and stretching helps me a lot, deep breathing, listening to relaxing music for this time of the year I like to listen to Christmas songs. Yes I do notice that color can help change my mood - either make me feel more energized or happier for brighter colors. Thanks so much for mentioning my article on How Healthy Food and Exercise can help you Quit Smoking! Have a healthy, happy & blessed day. Sharing on google Pinning & tweeting.

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    1. Don't understand what's going on on my blog platform. Your comment just arrived today. Sounds like you know so many ways to exercise, relax, and enjoy. Appreciate the support and wish I had seen this sooner. Happy weekend and many blessings.

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  2. I like your three tips - sound advice: Learn to focus on what is actually taking place from moment to moment.

    Stop dwelling on hurts or mistakes of the past.

    Curb your impulse to worry about what will happen in the future.
    #MLSTL

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    1. I needed my own reminder today. Thinking about the COVID-19 Pandemic can momentarily throw my thinking into a tailspin. I made a decision not to get caught up with that. Thanks for your visit, comment and stay well Lydia C. Lee.

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  3. Very sweet and thanks for the tips. I need to incorpate these into my life. #MLSTL

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    1. Another good tip is to keep things in the day and focus on progress not perfection. Thanks for your comment, visit, and stay well.

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  4. Some great resources there Nancy! Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Thanks so much Debbish. Appreciate your comment and feedback. Stay safe and well.

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  5. That HALT acronym was a good one Nancy - each of the four letters are relevant - and I know one or more can certainly drag down my day. Thanks for all the self-care ideas and the reminder to pay attention to what my body needs.
    Thanks for linking up with us at MLSTL and I've shared on my SM 😊

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    1. Thank you Leanne for hosting and your wise essays as well. Love #MLSTL. Sending best wishes for a beautiful day.

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