2022 - The Year of Self-care

This article is taken from a recent newsletter, ironically, the subject of my last one was ‘Exploring Possibility 2021’.

For many of us, (myself included) the collective Covid crisis of 2020 and 2021 gave us the insight and nudge that we needed to re-evaluate our lifestyles, as well slow down in order to explore other ways of being, and if not, then I do hope that you may be inspired to do so after reading this.

It feels important to firstly acknowledge the tragic new crisis unfolding in Ukraine following its invasion by Russia. This war is wrong in so many ways, but more especially with the violence and suffering it is causing to innocent lives. We can of course support, donate and volunteer help with humanitarian assistance via charities and other aid organisations. However, in our own reality, we can feel so despondent and helpless as we go about our everyday lives.

Hence, it is important to recognise that during these precarious times, it is essential to take care of our own personal mental and physical health. Our brain responds to stressful or negative news as a threat, then our sympathetic nervous system moves into fight or flight mode, producing stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. Over time, this stress can impact our general well-being, so fundamentally, this 2022 Newsletter is also a timely reminder to practice self-care as healthcare.

For me, ‘Exploring possibility’ last year, meant that I took time out to read more, as well as assimilate many of my old notebooks from various past yoga therapeutic trainings. I also researched/studied other subjects to do with overall health and well-being that really interest me, in particularly how to heal the body by eating anti-inflammatory foods.

I also explored how I could slot in more ‘me time’ and scale down the busy-ness of my everyday life. I have since 'scheduled' in time for, a weekly rock choir, every other day I either run, cycle or go for a long walk, I’m also about to join a gym so that I can swim/sauna and work on building up strength which is important as we get older. I now have the time to source and cook wholesome organic food with fresh ingredients, free from sugar, starches, and preservatives, I also have prioritised time for family and friends. Then lastly, I make sure that I have some quiet mindful time each day for reflection, inner-calm and focus. I no longer put pressure on myself to get things done, or squeeze things in, there is always tomorrow…

It has been a gradual process, but I’m proud to say that I achieved everything that I set out to do, I have now personally developed a brand-new website and a very different working week. I’m fully booked in my garden cabin studio each week, with yoga teacher mentoring as well as yoga therapeutic clients – and I mostly teach mornings only.

This has been such a huge shift for me, as for almost 20 years, I taught weekend and evening yoga classes and was caught up in a cycle of taking on too much and doing too much. In 2019, I taught 7 retreats as well as 3 advanced teacher trainings, then monthly workshops as well as weekly classes! Eek, what was I thinking, I was looking after my yoga students and my bank account but not myself!

I can honestly say, that due to altering my lifestyle in the above ways, I am at a place in my life whereby I feel very content. I also have more self-esteem, feel healthier, fitter and more vibrant than I’ve felt in years, I’m genuinely comfortable in my own skin. And an added bonus to altering my lifestyle is that my menopausal symptoms are now non-existent, (I will be writing an article about this too soon).

Modern day life never lets up, burnout, and mental health issues are on the rise simply because the amount we feel compelled to do is on the rise. Just as we practice other forms of healthcare such as cleaning our teeth and going for medical check-ups, etc, it’s also important to schedule in ‘me time’ to protect ourselves from the effects of stress.

Our minds are being constantly challenged, with messages, emails, news updates, rush-hour traffic, rushing to our next appointment, deadlines and so on. Eventually this can lead to burnout, stress, anxiety and can have a detrimental effect on our mental or physical health.

This kind of stress is chronic, and it causes chronic inflammation within the body which means your body is on high alert all the time. Chronic inflammation is considered to be the cause of many health issues, auto-immune diseases and all age-related diseases, which is why self-care is so essential in this day and age - (I will write more on this soon too).

Research has shown that our brains are not designed for constant productivity, in fact it’s been proven that we can be more productive when we schedule in some healthy daily ‘me time’.

Self-Care means making healthy choices, putting your physical, emotional, and mental well-being first, so that you are taking care of your own needs and not sacrificing your well-being to please others.

You are so important, more important than you’ll ever realise. Do what makes you happy, surround yourself with people you align with, move your body more, heal your body with food that is medicine and try to take some quiet time every day for you.

Self-Care/Self-Love is the prerequisite for optimal health and happiness, it is the foundation for everything else you can ever hope to achieve and experience. Nurturing yourself is not selfish, it is not selfish to make your happiness your main priority and it’s essential to your survival and general well-being

I really hope this article inspires you to schedule in some 'me time', (especially if you’re not doing so already), you’ve only got one body, one brain, and one lifetime - if you’re not taking care of yourself, then who else will do it for you.

You are so worthy of your own love.

Sending love and hugs in abundance

Brigitte xx