Sunday, December 17, 2023

Dec. 17, 2023 - Readings in Recovery: Today's Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

 

Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023

Today’s Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is:

Simple Self-Care

What do you think of when you think about self-care? Does it conjure up ideas of a weekend or week away? An expensive day at the spa? Buying yourself flowers? Chocolates? There’s nothing wrong with any of those things, but I’m here to remind you that self-care doesn’t have to cost you a cent, and you don’t have to develop any sort of formal plan to do it.

Sitting in silence is self-care. Bonus points if you do it outside in the sun. (Please don’t take your phone with you.) If sitting in silence (inside or outside) is hard for you, that’s okay. Try it another time.

Stretching is also self-care, and I don’t mean the kind where you get out your yoga mat. I mean literally stand up and stretch your arms above your head and then bend your neck forward, backward, and then in a circle. Can you try that now? Or modify it to fit your needs if you are not able to stand – you can stretch as you sit in a chair or in bed.

Self-care is breathing deeply. Can you take five deep breaths? Count to three on the inhale and five on the exhale. How does that feel? Look at you. You have just rocked simple self-care.

Practice simple self-care throughout the day. The benefits will astound you.

Hazelden Foundation

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