My Self-Care Strategies

With the start of the next quarter not until the first week of April, I find myself with some extra time on my hands, which I am dedicating to self-care. Since the beginning of the program, our professors have emphasized the importance of establishing a self-care routine. We have even completed assignments on this topic in both quarters. Now, during this break, I am putting those lessons into practice. Here is what it currently means to me.

I am getting good sleep. Lately, the research about the importance of sleep has become more popular. We have been more or less exposed to its benefits, which include boosting memory and learning, heart health, and our immune system.

I am dedicating 45 minutes daily to exercise, including cardio and resistance training. While I have always enjoyed walking, my physician has highlighted the critical role of weightlifting in preventing muscle loss. As I type these words, I am hoping to maintain this 45-minute routine when classes resume and my workload intensifies. For now, I am letting go of that concern and enjoying this amount of exercise while it lasts.

I am eating better. For me, eating better means eating more plant-based meals. I have found out about the work of Dr. Greger on nutrition and have been exploring his advice and his delicious recipes. With cases of heart disease in previous generations of my family, I want to make sure that I am being mindful of what I eat and how my eating habits impact the world around me.

I am spending time in my garden. It is not a farm, just a small backyard, but I enjoy cultivating marigolds, sunflowers, and a few veggies too. I find it relaxing and it gives me the opportunity to do something with my hands other than typing on a computer or on my phone.

I am also setting aside time to connect with friends and family. I wrote a post about how reconnecting with family and friends has impacted me. While I am not planning another trip to Brazil to see them yet, I am using WhatsApp and other tools to catch up.

Finally, there is one thing I am intentionally avoiding during the break: sitting for too long.

This is how I have been taking care of myself during the break. How do you practice self-care?

I will see you next week!