Flipping It!

Hello! It’s been a while.. Thing s have been so busy at BroadMinds that it simply hasn’t been possible to cover all basses but we’ve finally got the right balance between our demands and our resources and that’s afforded me the time to get back to doing some of the things I love and have missed.

You might call the timing of this, serendipitous.. For today is pancake day in this part of the world, which might sound like a whimsical idea but it actually has a religious origin. It being the last day before lent starts and so people would use up some of the remaining resources they have in their inventory to indulge themselves one last time before a 40 day period of abstinence.

So it seems like a good time to think about your resources, too.

What resources are available to you, to maintain and promote your own well being?

How do you cope when things become challenging?

I frequently find that when I ask this question in therapy, people usually have an answer, maybe one or two ideas, but more often than not, it’s a shallow pool of options and they are not always very good options. For example, if your answer to these questions involves something like smoking or drinking alcohol, then your coping mechanism is likely taking more out of you than it offers.

These kind of coping mechanisms are a trade off – short term relief for long term detriment.

So, my invitation to you is to think about your self care in a slightly more structured and organised way. Here’s how you can do just that!

These are the 7 Pillars of Self-Care:

The idea is quite simple: We breakdown the kind of things that nourish us in different ways and categorise them.

Then we break these down further by category and consider ways to fulfil that category.

For example:

Knowledge & Health Literacy: Learn something new such as a language or skill. Also, take time to research and inform yourself about your health. If you’re going to do this, use trusted sources – don’t follow some random influencer on Instagram and put blind faith in their advice. You could very easily find yourself going down all sorts of rabbit holes and doing yourself more harm than good.

Mental Wellbeing: Consider and prioritise your mental well being. Don’t put things off. If it needs attention, then attend to it. Don’t put it off. Your health will suffer in the long run. For example, if work has been stressful, have a discussion with your manager. Ask what can be done to ease the load.

Physical Activity: This doesn’t have to be putting on your trainers and running a marathon. It can be anything that requires physical effort. Anything from washing the car, doing some gardening, to more obvious forms of physical exercise.

Healthy Eating: Eat a balanced diet. If you’re not sure what that involves.. The information is easy to find. Check local health advice. Then, today.. add Pancakes!

Risk Avoidance: Of course we need some enjoyment and fun in our lives, but that can be achieved in all sorts of ways. Try to avoid common risks like drinking too much alcohol, smoking, vaping, gambling, taking unprescribed drugs – you have no idea what’s really in these and they are always ultimately bad for you.

Good Hygiene: Think about how much better you often feel after a good shower and taking care of yourself. Also, it’s often the case that ill health can be avoided by practising good hygiene like washing your hands properly after going to the toilet – You only have to visit a public toilet to see how many people don’t bother! Ewwww…

Rational Use of Products & Services: If you find yourself constantly reaching for a particular product or service, ask yourself what you’re actually getting out of it and if your degree of use is healthy. Phone use is an endemic modern issue. Use your phone’s own in-built apps to keep you updated on how much you’re using your phone. If you’re spending hours a day on your phone – then life is passing you by, and for what…? What do you get out of it?

So, Pancake day still has it’s relevance even though I don’t observe lent and I’m fortunate enough not to have to worry about how much food is in the pantry.

Think about your resources in a more structured way. Do they really meet your needs? If so how, and if there are any methods in there that are ultimately destructive, can these be replaced by healthier alternatives?

If you’re not sure how to do that, ask around! How do others achieve a balance between their demands and resources.

If you’d like to discuss Counselling & Psychotherapy for yourself or someone you know, contact BroadMinds Therapy and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you have and discuss options for you.

Call 0899420568

Email: help@broadmindstherapy.org

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Web: https://broadmindstherapy.org

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