Hi Friends! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and are excited about 2018! Let’s together, learn this year how to take better care of ourselves. The concept of putting “us” first is a hard one. People always tell me I need to take better care of myself and honestly I had to google how that was done!  As I age, I am seeing that incorporating a bit of “me time” is becoming a necessity if I want to be present for my family, supportive to my friends and take care of my peeps at work. So……..maybe together we can learn how!

You know when you are taking a airplane and the flight attendant says if the oxygen mask comes down, take care of yourself first and then help others around you. If you follow these directions the probability of more lives being saved is greater. So why do we all have such a hard time taking care of us? Especially when it enables us to take care of others? Below are some small tips that may make big changes in each of our lives!!

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Tip 1: Laugh daily. Laughter lowers your blood pressure, reduces stress hormone levels, boosts your immune system, works your ab muscles and so much more, so…………….. get your snicker on!!! My Mom now goes to laughter yoga. She was asking us to try it at a family dinner and before you knew it our forced laughter turned spontaneous.

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Tip 2: Unplug. Put down your cell phone. Focus just on the task at hand or person you are with. How many times have you been somewhere and you see a group of people being together texting others. Looking somebody in the eye, and sharing a moment together allows you to be present and enjoy!! Just say no to looking at your phone during conversations with others, at dinner, or in meetings. It is even proven that texting before bed disrupt sleep patterns interrupting that precious beauty sleep we all need.

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Tip 3: Make a list. Writing things down you are worried about, or to do’s that have to get done, clears your mind and enables you to be more productive and feel good about your day.

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Tip 4: Schedule time for yourself. We schedule so many other things in our lives, incorporate time for yourself. Whether it be a mani-pedi, lunch with a girlfriend, a short walk, a date night with your husband, or time to craft or read; putting the time on your calendar will make you more likely to do it.

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Tip 5: Do something special for yourself each day. It can be small–take a walk, treat yourself to a Starbucks, take time for morning meditation, take a bubble bath, read a verse, call a friend, bring a healthy lunch to work. This not only relaxes you but bad food choices are less tempting when you are rewarding yourself in other ways.

Tip 6: Enjoy compliments: Although we all like hearing compliments, many times we shrug them off or deflect them. The next time someone says something nice to you, say thank you and really appreciate what they have said. It’s nice to be appreciated!

Tip 7: Remind yourself of all the wonderful things you do. Don’t let all you have to accomplish overwhelm you! Take a minute to remember the many things done well every day and learn from but move on from mistakes and problems.

Tip 8: Move More.  If exercise is not your thing don’t get over whelmed by allocating big chunks of time.  The Department of Health and Human Services Physical Activity Guidelines recommends 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week for the average individual. That’s  only 21 minutes per day. Break this up during the day with two short walks, or just park at the back of all parking lots, take the stairs, and walk and talk when for a meeting or chat with a friend!!!

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Tip 9: Connect with an old friend: It is so easy to get so consumed with families and responsibilities that we don’t make time to reconnect with someone you truly love being with. Catching up through social media does not feed our souls like speaking in person or on the phone.

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Tip 10: Ask for help and delegate. Whether it be asking your kids to help with the dishes, your husband to stop by the store, a friend to pick up a child or a co-worker to help you with a task, learn to delegate more and ask for help!

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Tip 11: Be Grateful. Every morning when you wake up and every night before you go to bed think of 5 things you are grateful for.

I think sometimes we associate taking care of ourselves with being selfish. I know I do so the concept Is hard for me.  I am realizing that in order to be the best person you can be, you have to also fuel your soul and take care of yourself. This way you are also the best you can be to your family, friends, community and co-workers.  I found a Tiny Budda a blog by Ellen Bard that has so many wonderful tips you can incorporate into your lives. A great place to read more!! I hope 2018 brings the best of life to you all!!!