***Baby Boomers: Self Care is Core

How many times have you said in parting with someone in conversatio “Take care”. Quite a few colleagues end their e-mails with “Be well”. A friend of mine often says to me “Have a positive day”. Take care, be well, and have a positive day. Tall orders for a perfect life.

Self care is a requisite for health. No, I’m not talking about self centeredness, nor being selfish. And, let’s put spa treatments, pedicures and shopping sprees aside. They are indulgences that belong in the pamper category. We’ll consider those an extra layer of care.

Self care has emerged as a hot topic today. Somehow we need to be reminded to rejuvenate ourselves and regain joy in our life. Self care is the foundation of both being present and moving forward. It’s the veneer between bare essentials and minimal indulgences. Keeping our self care in check and alive helps us navigate tough terrains when those bumps occur.

When I hear someone say “Susan is so remarkable, she puts everyone else first, before herself”, it makes me curious on what merit that has in someone else’s eyes. If Susan keeps heading in that direction, sooner or later she is going to meet up with a level of physical, emotional and/or mental stress that may be downright depleting.

Might you agree?

Strive & survive? I’d much rather be in the thrive & alive category. Wouldn’t you?

I made a 3 minute video using the My Five Alive checklist to self care and real simple daily movement. Consider them headlines. You write the rest of the story. Remember you can, even if you forget how. Be reflective, be exuberant, explore, be quiet, play, ask, learn. Stop doing what you automatically do and be curious enough to check in with yourself. Acknowledge that spirit. Think of ‘spirit’ in terms of how we are in this world, how we are present with each other and ourselves. If you are heading the healthy way, then these will totally support your choice.

Want to explore more moves? Good, I’ve included an additional 20 ways to get in your daily moves that have nothing to do with ‘exercise’. How about it you need a push, or some motivation to get going? Let these simple 5 be your beginning, and grow from there.

Explore your options of movement everywhere. This is the foundation of being alive and the core to self care. When we take care of ourselves all else will follow.