I don’t know about you, but I’ve had it with 2017. I’m
ready for it to be done already.
We can skip over the fat white dude going in and out
of chimneys.
This year came with an unusual influx of turmoil,
strife, lessons, losses, relationship endings and beginnings. Many of you may
have started or ended jobs; graduated from schools and even had some career
changes. Your kids were probably acting up or moving out. The list goes on and
I’m sure that’s not even the half of what you have experienced.
With all of these adjustments you are probably making
a priority list of getting better with finances, health, school or career being
at the top of the list. I want to encourage you to take another route.
I’m going into my fourth year as a social worker. I’m
emotionally drained from my caseload and my personal life. I now understand
what my graduate school instructors were referring to when they kept reciting
the mantra “work-life balance”.
It is far unrealistic to expect that there is ever
this true achievable balance, but at the core of this motto is to at least carve
out time for you. I’m realizing just how important self-care really is.
I have taken the liberty to list some not so usual
things that you can do to refill your cup as this year ends.
1. Yoga
I know this one is going to throw
some people off, especially a few of my people in urban areas. Some of the
benefits of yoga include: stress reduction, heart health, increased flexibility,
weight reduction and improved energy. Check out sites below for class schedules.
African
American Yoga instructors
-Gypsy
Yoga http://www.gypsyyoga.net/gypsy-yoga-mission/
-Serene
Radiance Yoga https://sereneradianceyoga.com/
-Eb
and Flow Yoga Studio http://www.ebandflowyoga.com/
2.
Limit
Expectations
Be realistic about your experiences
during this holiday season. If this is the time of year that you feel down or
not caught up in the excitement of shopping
or being around family members that you only see once per year, give yourself
permission to feel that way. You are not alone. It’s perfectly acceptable to go
to an event and be introverted or have limited interactions. Trust yourself and
pay attention to your limits.
3.
Don’t
do anything you don’t want to do
You read it right! If you have to
talk yourself into going, then it probably doesn’t fit your “Fuck Budget” (There’s a whole TedTalk on
it). Essentially, the speaker says your “Fucks” equal your time, money and
energy and should be allocated carefully.
4.
Don’t
isolate
You have to find a balance between
this one and the previous one. Find people you care about and that care about
you to spend precious time with. I’m guilty of this point. I will lounge in bed
with my dog at the foot until the next available workday. I will find some
justification why it’s perfectly fine to waste away two days. And I know
better. Just find somebody that you have a common interest with and enjoy coffee
and slight conversation. Go see a movie with that person.
We have all had our
rough moments during this year, but it’s almost over. Hang in there.
Let me know in the
comments how you plan to refill your own cup!
Namasté
Sources:
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