Ladies, we need to be our own best friends – think of yourself as a diamond in the rough, what is it that you can do for yourself that makes you shine and sparkle?
… and yes, that’s me all glamored up in one of my Fantasy Photo shoot pictures – now that was an amazing day – I look a little sparkly, don’t I?
I have done some extremely fun things for myself lately like the photo shoot and flying to Chicago to run a 5k with a good friend, and let me tell you, it’s felt great. I have always been the one doing and giving to others, putting myself first felt strange at first, but now, I like it!
Doing things for yourself does two things – first it makes you happy, and when your happy – everyone around you is happy… second, it is good for your overall health and fitness…. It is the x-factor that gets us every time – for today X= stress, which = an increase in cortisol production – the fight or flight hormone. Without even knowing it we are bombarded with stress everyday, not sleeping = stress, getting the kids into the tub = stress, trying to figure out what we are having for dinner = stress, Holidays = Stress x 10!!! It’s all the little things that add up over time that have a chronic effect on our body if we don’t do something good for ourselves to off set them.
So what effect do stress / cortisol have on our body?
According to Elizabeth Scott, M.S. , higher and more prolonged levels of cortisol in the bloodstream (like those associated with chronic stress) have been shown to have negative effects, such as:
- Impaired cognitive performance
- Suppressed thyroid function
- Blood sugar imbalances such as hyperglycemia
- Decreased bone density
- Decrease in muscle tissue
- Higher blood pressure
- Lowered immunity and inflammatory responses in the body, slowed wound healing, and other health consequences
Increased abdominal fat, which is associated with a greater amount of health problems than fat deposited in other areas of the body. Some of the health problems associated with increased stomach fat are heart attacks, strokes, the development of metabolic syndrome, higher levels of “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and lower levels of “good” cholesterol (HDL), which can lead to other health problems.
Listed below are some thing you can do for yourself to help produce a relaxation response – can you say Self Nurturing 😉
- Allow yourself some private time each day, even if it is only a half hour.
- Take a long walk.
- Buy a bouquet of flowers for yourself.
- Begin to develop an intimate circle of friends and family.
- Turn off the phone and allow your answering machine to pick up your calls.
- Put on your favorite music, turn it up loud and dance.
- Call your best friend and settle in with a hot cup of tea, for a good long talk.
- Snuggle up in bed with a good book.
- Sink into your tub for a long, luxurious soak at the end of the day.
- Indulge in getting (or giving) a massage.
- Snack on your favorite “comfort food.”
- Remember how you felt when you fell in love with your partner and allow yourself to recreate that feeling.
- Write a love letter (to your partner, children, parents, friends…)
- Treat yourself to a manicure and a pedicure.
- Rent a great video.
- Start a gratitude journal and express your thanks on a daily basis.
- Go to the beach. Delight and bask in the warming rays of the sun.
- Visit your favorite bookstore (the one with comfortable chairs and a coffee shop) and spend the afternoon.
Click the link below for 100 more ways to nurture yourself!
Comments are closed.