Self-care is an essential part of wellness. From self-massage to meditations to decluttering,The Little Book of Self-Care(Adams Media, 2017) reconnects you with your body, mind, spirit, and surroundings to leave you feeling refreshed and ready to face the world. Adams Media provides 100 relaxation exercises to help you focus on your own personal needs in an enjoyable way. By caring for yourself, you’ll learn how to care for the world around you. The following excerpt is from the “Mind” section.
Learn a Different Language
Most of us wish we had paid more attention in our required language classes in high school. Not only is it helpful when traveling, but on your resume it can add tremendous value when you can speak more than one language. Studies show that only 5.5 percent of the world speaks English as a primary language. You can take classes online, purchase a book, or take classes at your local college. Learning a new language will not only increase your global understanding, but it will also open up new opportunities for you. There are more than 6,500 different languages spoken in the world today, so pick one and start studying. Expand your mind!
Notice Your Lies
It’s one of our first life lessons. From the moment we come up with our first little white lie, we are taught that our word is sacred. However, as the years go by, telling the truth changes from an easily understood concept to a confusing notion rife with gray areas. Many people tell little white lies, half-truths, or useful falsehoods to evade blame, deceive others, deny reality, or to feel better about themselves. A little white lie, in some instances, might be motivated by a desire to prevent someone from being hurt.
The first step in breaking a habit of lying is to notice when you’re doing it and why. Bring mindfulness to bear on the problem and you will find yourself more inclined to tell the truth. If you have lied, admit it to the person you’ve lied to. Then, take steps to change.
Chill Out If You Can’t Sleep
Don’t get all stressed out about not being able to get to sleep. An occasional night of too-few ZZZs won’t hurt you as long as you usually get enough sleep. Rather than lying in the dark, tossing and turning in frustration, turn on the light and find something to read. Get comfortable. Sip some warm milk or chamomile tea. Meditate. Steer your mind away from worries and think about pleasant things — not sleep, just pleasant things. Breathe. Even if you don’t get to sleep, at least you’ll get to relax. And you’ll probably feel drowsy soon.
However, if it becomes a pattern that keeps happening, figure out why. Maybe you’ve been working right up to the time you crawl beneath the sheets, not giving your mind enough time to transition from stress to rest. Perhaps you’ve been watching the news or a television show that riled up feelings. Once you identify what could be contributing, talk to your doctor about it.
More from The Little Book of Self-Care:
• Self-Care Tips for the Body
• Self-Care Tips for the Spirit
• Self-Care Tips for Your Surroundings
Excerpted fromThe Little Book of Self-Care: 200 Ways to Refresh, Restore, and Rejuvenateby Adams Media. Copyright © 2017 Adams Media, a division of Simon and Schuster. Used by permission of the publisher. All rights reserved.
