Wellness Tips

By Robin Reed, MD

1. Sleep Hygiene

No TV in bedroom. Go to bed the same time every night. If you can not fall asleep after 10-15 minutes, get out of bed, do something, then go back to bed and try again. If you wake up un-refreshed after good 7-8 hours of sleep — consider having sleep study performed.

2. Deep Breathing

Take time out for 3 deep slow breathes, to clear out your lungs and refresh them. … before you start your day to give you a lift, middle of your day to relieve stress, and end of day to unwind, and relax into being home.

3. Movement

Run, dance, swim, walk the dog. Do one thing that what brings you.

4. Rinse Inside and Out

Water feeds all living things and washes away impurities on our skin and inside our bodies. Add flavors to waters if you must, but find something that is low in sugars in sweeteners to satisfy your bodies need for this
essential ingredient. It makes our organs function well, keeps or kidneys detoxifying our system, and hydrates our skin and brain. We can not live long without water.

5. Pity pot

Spend 5 minutes, perhaps daily, to dump all the negatives running through you head on paper, or in an imaginary trash can. At the end of the dump fest, list 5-10 things for which you are grateful.

6. Reflect

Journal. Take time to reflect on what is happening, what you are feeling, what are your goals and successes. Or see a therapist as often as you wish. He/she is there to listen and support you. This may be the best money (copay) you have ever spent.

7. Nature Bathing

Spend extended intentional time in nature weekly, not just daily jog with headphones, but touching, smelling, looking with intention and focus at nature. This is called mindfulness.

8. Use all your senses to restore yourself weekly.

Using your senses in self-care.

  • Touch - massage, bubble bath
  • Smell - candle aroma therapies, mindfulness food smells
  • Taste - use mindfulness for eating food slowly, or without over-indulging, pick a flavor that you love and get that taste again - peppermint, a salad made by someone else, black licorice, etc. Savor it.
  • Hear - music, bird song, mindfulness listening while sitting or walking out doors
  • Talk - on phone with someone you have been meaning to call. Or express yourself fully, in blogs, journal, through writing poetry or drawing, even if you aren't "good" at it. Just do what you feel you want to do to express yourself. You have something to say.
  • Relate - be in relationship with someone and pay attention to him or her fully. It is amazing to not multitask for even just 30 minutes a day, and be fully present.

Hang this list someplace where you can refer to it. Grade yourself every week, on Sunday before you start your next week. What are your successes, what one thing do you wish to make sure you add for the coming week? Remember you are worth spending time on.