Self Care Tip of the Week #17 – Begin to Declutter and make space
On the weekend I had the privilege of going to a Book Tour meet up for a book called “Everything that Remains” by Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus (The Minimalists). It was an impromptu event and I haven’t even read the book!!
What The Minimalists are on about got me thinking and I think it connects very well with self care and making a stand to look after ourselves.
The Minimalists are about ‘living a meaningful life with less stuff.’ This is another aspect that can help increase your self care and learning to value you. Self care is about valuing who you are and putting yourself on the list. Beginning to put yourself first instead of always putting others first. Something that I took away from The Minimalists was to declutter. Begin to get rid of stuff in my life that does not add value. This may be things, activities, commitments, relationships, work, books ….. (you fill in the space).
So my self care tip for this week is Begin to Declutter and make space. You may start by going through your bookshelf and selling or giving away any books you haven’t touched in a long time, or maybe your wardrobe (I know I have a lot in mine that I don’t wear). Or maybe you could start in your kitchen – how many mugs, cups, plates, bowls, frypans etc do you use?
As you begin to declutter keep this question in mind “how does this add value to my life?” Only you can answer that – there is no right or wrong answer.
As you declutter your life, you make space. Space for having more focus and less busy. Space for more ‘you’ time. Space to value who you are. Space for relationships. Space.
Take the Journey today.
See below for more Self Care Tips:
#1 – Take a relaxing bath.
#2 – Spend intentional quality time with family. Take a walk, go out for coffee, have a chat with the TV turned off.
#3 – Write a bucket list. If money or time was not a question to consider, what would you like to do before you die? Dream big! Let your creativity run wild!
#4 – Look through some old photo albums – or photos saved on your computer. Remember the smells, noises and people you were with or places you saw or went to.
#5 – Be kind to yourself. Find a place to to relax and take time to breathe.
#6 – Give someone a random hug, just because.
#7 – Treat yourself to something yummy and take in all the textures, tastes and aromas of the treat.
#8 – Laugh for no reason at all. You might want to be somewhere by yourself when you do this. When I first heard this suggestion I thought it was a bit weird! After I did it, I felt different and almost couldn’t stop laughing. Give it a go!
#9 – Celebrate an achievement or success – Something that is a big deal for you. The art of celebrating when you’ve achieved something – big or small – is really important to learning to value who you are.
#10 – Keep a Journal. Something happens in our brain when we put pen to paper – or it might be fingers to keyboard. Our brain needs creative stimulation and writing with a nice pen or coloured textas can be an incredible process.
#11 – Have a hit of golf – or something else that will get you outside being active.
#12 – Be Kind to Yourself.
#13 – Listen to your favourite song and sing or dance around like no one’s watching.
#14 – Watch the sunset.
#15 – Make your favourite drink and drink it while sitting in the sun.
#16 – Tick something off your bucket list.
Journeez Counselling and Training, Adelaide, are specialists in Self Care and learning to look after yourself in this fast-paced society. Please contact me today for further information about counselling or my Self Care workshops and seminars for businesses, churches or community groups. You are also welcome to join the Journeez community by subscribing to this blog above or follow me on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Discovering Life to the Fullest.
