Self Care Corner

As you have rounded the corner from the holidays and are catching your breath, you may be reaching for a way to reset your self-care routine. After overstimulating all your senses and processing all those holiday meals, here’s an easy way to overcome the post-holiday slump, regain your energy, and reset your mindset for the new year.

Fall into acts of service. Research shows this consistently improves mental health by reducing stress, combating depression and anxiety, boosting feelings of purpose and connection to others, and even leading to positive physical health outcomes like lower blood pressure, all contributing to a greater sense of well-being and life satisfaction. Essentially, the act of helping others can positively impact the helper’s own mental and physical state.

Last fall, we posed these questions to our readers; here’s what they had to say!

How are you incorporating being of service as a form of self-care?

How are you filling your cup by offering to volunteer for a cause and fill others’?

What is the “why” that supports your staying in a space of gratitude and service during the holidays?

Pickles Lea, a leader in the Prescott community and owner of her own local nonprofit dedicated to sharing the love of yoga with the community, said, “I volunteer for the Chamber for different events all year long. I give back by offering free yoga classes throughout the year. I’ve always been one to be grateful for the opportunities and love I have in my life.”

Yoga and Pilates instructor Jessica Leary also contributed: “Giving back naturally lifts our spirits. Helping others heals us, too. I’m doing monthly Quiet Revolution: Restorative Yoga for a cause, and inviting the community to help. My volunteer time involves things I enjoy doing naturally: yoga, working with youth, etc. I meet like-minded people and that fills my cup, too. My ‘why’ is about paying it forward. I’ve received help in the past when in need and I feel it’s important to lift others up and be there when it’s their turn to receive.”

A. As a single, working mom, self-care is a prioritized part of my every day. Right now, scheduling regular therapy, HRT appointments, social dates with my friends, and journaling are pulling me through a very busy, very capacity-stretched summer. Remembering that these are “seasons” and not the rest of my life helps keep things in perspective when I’m at my wit’s end balancing work, parenthood, and my personal life. It gets better!

A. Hey Jen! Yes. This is a symptom of perimenopause, and it’s also a symptom of stress, high cortisol, and a whole slew of other issues. My recommendation is always this. If you’re getting regular rest, 7-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep a day (waking up at night can also be a sign of perimenopause), AND you’re living a pretty “regular” life, not overdoing it on alcohol, sugar, etc. (although with perimenopause your tolerance for ANYTHING is lower) then I would recommend a blood test to see where your hormones are. For me, fatigue, weight gain, massive mood swings, and painful sex were the first signs of perimenopause, and people just told me (and I listened) that I was stressed…well, I was stressed, AND my hormones were ALSO not balanced. Schedule a blood test, ask them to run a hormone and a vitamin deficiency panel, and see what’s going on.

A: I’m deeply passionate about the power of essential oils and the transformative impact of clean, orderly environments. Scientific studies affirm that the scent of lavender has a calming effect on the nervous system, while organized spaces contribute significantly to our overall sense of well-being. Fortunately, I have the privilege of a dedicated home office—an oasis meticulously curated with furnishings, art, and literature that reflect my style. I find solace amidst the comforting aroma of essential oils and the backdrop of my favorite playlists.

Recognizing that not everyone may have the luxury of a spacious “whole room,” I advocate for creating personal sanctuaries within the constraints of your living space—a cozy nook, a well-organized bookshelf, or simply a designated area for cherished items. If clutter threatens to overwhelm me, I implore everyone to embark on a spring-cleaning journey, clearing the physical space to foster inner tranquility.

Ultimately, nurturing your nervous system hinges on cultivating harmonious environments within your home—spaces where you can unwind, engage in self-care rituals, and indulge in life’s pleasures, whether through reading, journaling, creative pursuits, or savoring a piece of chocolate.

A: Fortunately, my family is incredibly attuned to my self-care needs, and we integrate my musings and “self-care science experiments” into our daily lives. They safeguard my time and contribute wholeheartedly to household tasks and schoolwork, fostering a genuine team spirit. Recognizing that not everyone enjoys such familial support, I offer this advice: tailor your approach based on your family dynamics. While some can openly communicate their needs and receive immediate support, others may benefit from more structured methods, such as a shared Google calendar to schedule self-care time or implementing chore rotations and meal planning to distribute responsibilities evenly.

This creates space for individual self-care and fosters a culture of collective well-being within the family unit.

However, the most impactful strategy I’ve discovered universally is leading by example in self-care practices. Whether practicing yoga at home with children nearby, indulging in uninterrupted reading time, or preparing nourishing meals, visibly prioritizing your well-being influences and inspires those around you, prompting them to embark on their journeys toward self-care.

A: Yes. Turn it into a self-care day for you! Date yourself; take yourself out to eat, book a massage (if you can), listen to Miley Cyrus, and “buy yourself flowers.” Flowers not for you? You can get a tattoo, go out of town, make plans with friends, dive into a new book, try a new workout…self-care is honoring your self. Do the things that make you happy and take the day (or weekend) to treat yourself like royalty. Another consideration is to stay off social media for that day. Get out on the trails and into nature. The birds and the winter weather are happy and serene without anyone leaving them giant red hearts. Sometimes a social media detox during any holiday is the brain break you need away from ads and influencers!

A: More than normal. I believe Valentine’s Day is the after-Christmas economy bump a marketing team put into motion long ago to lift the bottom line of first-quarter sales! So many people I know are in committed relationships and don’t enjoy the big “V” day. There’s something about being actually in love that makes the obligation of getting a giant red card, flowers, and something you can’t afford as an offering or validation of your commitment to one another.

These days I know everyone has been curious about cold therapy, specifically ice baths and/or cold showers. You either are game for the idea, suffer through it, and reap the benefits or it’s an automatic hard pass. Here’s the thing…for the last 6 months I have ended every shower in the AM with 30 seconds of cold water AND I have not called out sick in all of those days. Turns out that just that small amount of cold water every day is theorized to reduce sick time by 30%. As a working mom, 30% less downtime is worth it for me to be a little uncomfortable, especially with two school-age kids who are essentially walking Petrie dishes.

First of all, well done for advocating for yourself and getting your blood looked at. Now I’m going to get a little feisty towards your Dr. Normal range according to who? How old are you, what does your life look like, how’s your nutrition, what’s your activity level and how’s the quality of your sleep? You may be within the “normal range” on your blood work but those ranges are the bare minimum measurements for staying alive…not thriving.

The moment you realize you have put on 10-15 lbs, cannot lose weight for 3 months, and are more tired than normal,  bloated, have headaches, and are grumpier than normal, get your blood drawn. There is a lot of shame surrounding body image and many Dr.s  will tell you your symptoms are due to lack of movement, stress, or just tell you it’s “getting older”.