My Self, My Friend

My Self, My Friend

When too many tasks and thoughts form a heavy cloak over my shoulders, my mind often wanders to how best to accomplish everything without losing my marbles so to speak. In the past, I would never stop to think about scheduling time for myself, nor would I take time out in a situation to assess how I could prevent a stressful meltdown. Instead, I would power through without pause. The result? My nerves would be fried and I would barely be capable of making the simplest of decisions.

These days, the term “self-care” frequently comes to mind when a busy streak sets in. Despite the fact that I have thought about what practices help me feel grounded in times of tumult, I can’t honestly say that I always follow through with them. I have learned that habits can be really hard to break. It’s a work in progress.

While it is often helpful for me to pause and leave what I am doing to make myself a cup of tea or to go outside for a walk, I have been contemplating a shift in how I think about “self-care.” For some reason, it has been easier for me to think about treating my “self” as my friend. If one of my closest buddies was out of sorts, I wouldn’t hesitate to try my best to make them feel better, or to encourage them to take time out for themselves. Why wouldn’t I want that for myself?

This encourages kindness in a time when my inner critic is bound to come to the surface. I’m able to slow down and take a step back. While we all face pressure to complete our to-do lists, I find that this strategy also helps me in times when I feel overwhelmed about managing my PCOS or thinking about the future.

While being moved to act in a way that promotes self-care can certainly produce amazing results, I have found that this small shift in thinking has helped me.


What works for you? How do you take care of yourself in trying times?

Written by: Natalie, Power Up for PCOS Volunteer
http://www.powerupforpcos.com
*Please note that I am not a medical professional. I am not qualified to give out any medical advice. I am a woman with PCOS who is sharing my personal experiences in this blog and I advise you to consult a professional.*

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