As people everywhere dive into the festive season of love, indulgence, and giving this Christmas, I thought it might be an opportune time to share my top five tips for giving back to yourself – otherwise known as self-care. 

No – Saying “No” can be the most powerful thing you do for yourself. Someone need some extra minutes of your time when you’re already on the edge? Kindly and compassionately say, “No – it’s not in anybody’s best interest for me to extend myself to tethers.” Is there an event in your diary that is getting in the way of your self-care? Perhaps consider re-scheduling it to a time that better suits you, or maybe it can be removed altogether. Remember: Even Good things can get in the way of the Best things.

Undo – Whilst there is no magic eraser that can rub out that harsh comment or thoughtless action, genuine forgiveness comes pretty close! As the year comes to a close, is there a relationship with a rift in your life that could do with the healing of forgiveness? Perhaps the person you need to obtain forgiveness from the most is yourself! Try writing out some self-acceptance and self-forgiveness statements.

Reflect – Thought leader Simon Sinek popularised the concept: If you lose your Why, you lose your Way. Conversely, if you find your Why, you find your Way. It has been a long standing practice of mine to take some time at the end of each day to reflect on the events (and more particularly my interactions) of my day; delving especially into the opportunities where I could have shown up better for others. Understanding the Why’s of my micro-choices helps me understand myself better, increasing my self-awareness and the intentional plan for better choices next time. Consider what pushed your buttons today, and delve into the Why – you might just discover something new about yourself. 

Sensory deprivation – Intentional sensory deprivation is the ultimate form of rest - as opposed to going into a coma! However you like to rest – whether it’s getting actual sleep, going on a fast from technology/ media/ sugar/ food, floating in a float tank (literally called a sensory deprivation tank), or exercising your right to be a couch potato – make sure to schedule some rest time in for You – Just You. 

Enjoyment – In our pursuit of well-being, have a think about what you currently do to satisfy your appetite for physical, intellectual, social, emotional and spiritual fulfilment. Enjoyment doesn’t only have to take the form of your favourite snack. It can also mean indulging in a hobby like reading or jet-skiing. See if you can find a way to enjoy at least one thing in not just one but all of the areas of wellness. It is the season for indulgence after all. 

From one nurse to another, I hope you found the above NURSE tips for self-care helpful. 

To your well-being,

Qing

Chief Experience Officer

“Nurse: the first person you see after saying, ‘Hold my beer and watch this!’” – unknown